CNN has released a report on traditional Chinese postpartum care in Taiwan. The report, released Wednesday, comes after a new mother in Mainland China died from heat stroke after wrapping herself in thick quilt and confining herself to a room without air conditioning according to Chinese custom.
Traditional postpartum care is known as “zuo yue zi”, which literally means “sitting the month”. Traditional Chinese medicine indicates that mothers who have just given birth are weak and so should avoid cold air, touching water and washing themselves. Mothers are not meant to leave the house and must stick to a strict diet of hot soups with fish and pig’s feet.
CNN interviewed American mother Gwo Dreyer who twice stayed at a postpartum care center in Taiwan after giving birth to two children. Dreyer said she found the Chinese approach much more supportive to new parents. Dreyer said that in the US, focus is put on the baby, but in Taiwan, both the baby and the mother are cared for.
CNN reports that more and more of traditional maternity centers are opening in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.