Chinese Myths - Advice After Pregnancy
Looking after a Chinese mother who has just given birth is a huge thing, and is never overlooked. Quite often it is the case that family members, such as the in-laws, would move back in to help look after the baby and mother. This usually lasts for at least 3 months, but quite often goes longer than a year.
In Chinese culture mothers are considered at their weakest point of their life, and are treated accordingly. Whilst many modern women challenge this these days, most don’t. They succumb to the will of the domineering parents and follow all their advice.
The period when the mother is cared for in the extreme is the first month, and is called ‘sitting month.’ Traditional rules dictate that the mother should obey all of the following rules during this month-long period, and if any of these rules are broken, the consequences will appear in middle-age and can be such problems as arthritis or rheumatic pain.
- They must stay in bed, and can only get out for bathroom breaks.
- They must always wear a hat, awake and asleep
- They should not touch cold things such as water or food
- They must not eat fruit or vegetables
- They cannot have salty or spicy food
- Absolutely not allowed to be being intimate with the father
As you can tell, some of these rules make sense when you take into account the fact that the mother is probably breastfeeding, but most are a little unusual. However, that is the nature of culture and makes for interesting reading
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