Postpartum Confinement: A Modern ABC’s Experience with Traditional Chinese Recovery
Share
Even though I was born and raised in the Western world, I chose to embrace postpartum confinement, a traditional recovery practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
It made a huge difference to how I recovered after birth.
Postpartum recovery is something many women underestimate. Birth is not just an event, it’s a major transformation of the body. In TCM, the postpartum period is considered one of the most important windows for long-term health.
This is my experience of practicing postpartum confinement as an ABC (Australian-Born Chinese woman), and how I adapted traditional wisdom in a modern way.
What Is Postpartum Confinement?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, birth leaves the body depleted, open and vulnerable to cold.
Postpartum confinement focuses on restoring balance through four key pillars:
1. Rest – allowing the body to heal
2. Warmth – protecting the body from cold and wind
3. Nourishment – rebuilding Blood and Qi
4. Mothering the Mother – being supported by family or community
Think of it as creating a warm cocoon for healing during the most vulnerable time in a woman’s life.
The First Time I Saw Postpartum Confinement
The first time I saw postpartum confinement was when my older sister practiced it after having her baby.
I knew it helped her.
But at the time, I remember thinking:
"This seems a bit extreme."
Later, when I started my business focused on postpartum care and Traditional Chinese Medicine, my perspective changed.
The more I learned, the more I realised:
Postpartum recovery deserves real support.
It isn’t easy.
Sleep deprivation.
A newborn who barely sleeps.
A body depleted from birth.
This is when the traditional practices started to make a lot more sense.
Preparing My Postpartum Village
One of the most important things I did before birth was prepare my village.
That meant sitting down with my family on both sides and discussing how we could share responsibilities during the postpartum period.
We talked about things like:
- Who could help cook
- Who could assist with cleaning
- Who could come over to hold the baby so I could nap
- Setting boundaries with visitors
- Whether anything should be outsourced
Having these conversations beforehand made everything much clearer for everyone.
They were lifesavers!!!
The 5-5-5 Rule… and Why It Didn’t Work for Me
Many people talk about the 5-5-5 postpartum rule:
- 5 days in bed
- 5 days on the bed
- 5 days near the bed
It’s a guide for intentional, phased rest after birth.
As much as I planned to follow it, the reality was different.
My baby barely slept and was quite unsettled. The only thing that calmed her was walking up and down the stairs.
You never know what kind of baby you’ll get.
Some sleep for long stretches.
Others, like mine, keep you moving.
And that’s okay.
Staying Indoors During Postpartum Confinement
Even though I didn’t follow the 5-5-5 rule perfectly, I did stay indoors for a month.
I only left the house for appointments or stepped into the backyard for fresh air.
We also didn’t have visitors apart from immediate family for at least six weeks.
Some people feel isolated during this time.
But for me, my baby barely slept and I was so sleep deprived I could barely function.
I definitely didn’t have the sleepy newborn everyone talks about.
My First Postpartum Herbal Drink
My first non-negotiable herbal drink postpartum was Sheng Hua Tang.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this classic formula is commonly used after birth to help:
- Support circulation
- Clear lochia
- Begin the recovery process
I actually packed the granule blend in my hospital bag so I could start my herbal recovery as early as possible.
Following a 28-Day Postpartum Herbal Recovery
After the initial herbs, I followed The Herborium 28-Day Postpartum Herbal Package.
In TCM, postpartum recovery happens in stages.
Each week focuses on a different phase of healing as the body gradually restores:
- circulation
- energy
- blood
- overall balance
It was completely okay if I missed a day.
The herbs were still incredibly supportive even beyond the first 28 days, and they were easy to prepare myself or with help from family.
Red Dates Tea: A Postpartum Staple
Another daily staple was red dates tea.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, red dates help:
- rebuild Blood
- strengthen Qi
- gently nourish the body after birth
It’s simple, warming and incredibly comforting during recovery.
Did I Follow Every Confinement Rule?
One common myth is that you can’t wash your hair during postpartum confinement.
I did wash my hair.
The concern in TCM isn’t the washing itself, it’s cold entering the body while it’s vulnerable.
So whenever I washed my hair, I made sure to:
- dry it immediately
- keep my neck warm
Black Vinegar Pork Trotter (But Not Every Day)
I did enjoy black vinegar pork trotter during postpartum.
It’s actually one of my favourite dishes even outside of confinement, and my mum makes the best version.
This traditional dish is very warming and often used postpartum because it contains:
- ginger
- black vinegar
- collagen-rich pork trotter
- egg
However, I didn’t eat it every day.
Personally, I find it too 'heaty' to eat daily.
Hydration During Postpartum Confinement
Hydration looked different for me during postpartum recovery.
Instead of drinking lots of plain water, I focused on:
- nourishing soups
- congee
- slow-cooked meals
- steamed or sautéed dishes
In TCM, warm, water-rich foods hydrate the body more gently and deeply.
I often sipped herbal soups throughout the day like my “water.”
There’s actually a common myth about whether women should drink water during postpartum, I have another post on our IG feed discussing this topic in more detail.
My First Postpartum Meal at the Hospital
One thing I didn’t do after giving birth was jump straight into sushi or sashimi.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, when the body is depleted after birth, raw and cold foods are usually limited because they can weaken digestion and recovery.
My first meal included:
- ginger chicken rice
- black silkie chicken & glutinous rice wine soup
- blanched vegetables
- steamed fish
Warm, nourishing and easy to digest.
Not typical hospital food.
And definitely not iced water from the hospital jug.
Confinement Rules I Adapted
There are many traditional postpartum rules, but I adapted some of them in a way that worked for me.
For example:
- I did enjoy fresh fruit, but usually alongside warm meals or drinks
- I used air conditioning on hot days, but avoided direct airflow on my body
- I kept my neck, abdomen and feet warm
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, protecting the body from cold and wind helps support healing during this sensitive recovery window.
Postpartum Confinement in the Modern World
Postpartum confinement doesn’t have to look exactly the same as it did generations ago.
For me, it was about honouring the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine while adapting it to modern life.
Rest.
Warmth.
Nourishment.
Support.
These pillars of recovery are just as important today as they were hundreds of years ago.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, mothers deserve to be cared for too.