Traditionally in China, a new mother would take one month to rest & recover after the birth. She would stay indoors, and do no work, chores or errands!

Whilst this approach may not fit in well in today’s western culture, the principle is still good! Here's some suggestions:

Climate

Chinese medicine views the body as being vulnerable to the wind, rain, hot & cold, particularly when we are tired or run down. Try to stay indoors for a few days, and protect your baby from the weather, as her immune system is still forming.

Try not to breastfeed in a draft and avoid electric fans & heaters. Remember to dry your hair after bathing!

Try to avoid going from one extreme of climate to another, such as using air conditioning.

Rest

Try to rest as much as possible. Your body has gone through a lot of changes over the last few months and labour uses a lot of energy.

Sleep when the baby sleeps if you want to nap during the day.

Taking the weight off your feet rests your back and helps restore your energy levels.

Have times when you only relax - no reading, watching TV or sitting in front of the computer!

Your family and friends may be eager to meet your new baby, but try to avoid having a great influx of visitors in the first week. This is a unique time to recover and bond with your baby.

Diet

Eat well! Warm, cooked foods are easier to digest than cold, raw foods, such as cereal and salads. Your stomach has to bring food up to body temperature anyway, and break it down, so why not give it a head start in the saucepan!

The energy of what you eat passes to your baby through your breastmilk. Because your little one’s digestive system is very fragile compared to an adult’s, you need to be careful with what you eat.

Be careful or avoid: wholegrain food, spicy food, caffeine and alcohol. Try to eat warm, nourishing foods, like porridge, soup, and mashed potato.

Try out our recipe for an excellent soup that promotes nourishing breastmilk production: Breastmilk Soup Recipe