Around the World Series | Nourish and Restore

How Cultures Around the World Nourish and Restore Mothers After Birth

The journey of motherhood is as ancient as time — and yet, too often in modern life, the healing needs of mothers are overlooked the moment the baby arrives. But across generations, cultures around the world have passed down the wisdom that healing after birth is not just about rest — it is also about nourishing and restoring the mother’s body, mind, and spirit.

This month, in our Around the World Series, we shine a light on the pillar of Nourish & Restore — honouring the traditional postpartum practices that have supported mothers through postpartum recovery for centuries.

Because postpartum nourishment is more than food on a plate — it is a sacred ritual. A loving act of care. A way to fill what was emptied, to replenish what was given, and to remind every mother: "You are worthy of being held, fed, and restored."

Join us as we explore how cultures across the globe weave healing, warmth, and nourishment into postpartum care.

Traditional Chinese Postpartum: The Healing Power of Pork Knuckle with Black Vinegar and Ginger

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), postpartum care is rooted in the belief that childbirth leaves the body in a vulnerable, cold state. To restore balance, warmth and nourishment are key. One beloved and time-honoured dish is pork knuckle cooked with ginger and black vinegar, often accompanied by hard-boiled eggs.

Rich in collagen, calcium, and protein, this dish is believed to:
✔️Replenish lost blood
✔️Strengthen bones and joints
✔️Improve circulation and Qi flow
✔️Support skin healing and tissue repair

The warmth of the ginger, the acidity of the vinegar, and the strength of the pork bones work together to support recovery. Passed down through generations, this meal is lovingly prepared by mothers and grandmothers — a gift of nourishment and strength from one generation to the next.

Traditional Hawaiian Postpartum: Laʻau Lapaʻau and Healing Foods

In Hawaiian tradition, the postpartum journey is supported not just by rest, but through the intentional use of healing foods and herbal medicine — known as "Laʻau Lapaʻau".

Mothers are offered nutrient-rich meals that include:
🌿Fish and pork for protein and strength
🌿Sweet potatoes and coconut for energy and hydration
🌿Herbal teas and coconut water to support detoxification and milk production

Remedies like Awa (kava) and Noni are used for relaxation, healing, and spiritual balance. But in Hawaiian culture, nourishment goes beyond physical recovery — it is a practice of emotional and spiritual care, acknowledging that true healing happens on every level of being.

Traditional Cambodian Postpartum: Warming Broths and Bundol Pech Herb Tea

After childbirth, Cambodian mothers are encouraged to maintain inner warmth — a concept deeply rooted in their healing traditions. To restore balance, cold foods and drinks are avoided, and warm, nourishing meals become the center of postpartum care.

Daily staples include:
🍲Steaming broths made with chicken, fish, or pork, infused with ginger and black pepper
🍚Rice served alongside, providing gentle, sustaining energy
🌿Herbal teas made from "bundol pech" — a local root believed to aid hydration, healing, and milk flow

This tradition recognises that recovery is not rushed. Instead, it is nurtured through slow, intentional care — a daily act of filling the cup so that the mother may heal, restore, and give from a place of fullness.

Traditional Netherlands Postpartum: Beschuit Met Muisjes

In the Netherlands, the birth of a baby is greeted with the joyful tradition of "beschuit met muisjes" — rusk biscuits topped with butter and sugar-coated anise seeds. While this might seem like a lighthearted snack, the anise seeds carry deeper meaning.

Known for their ability to:
✨Support breast milk production
✨Aid digestion
✨Ease postnatal cramping

This tradition blends celebration with nourishment — a reminder that food can be both joyful and healing. The simple act of gathering loved ones, sharing food, and honouring the mother and baby weaves connection and care into the postpartum experience.

Traditional Armenian Postpartum:  Khavits for Energy and Comfort

In Armenia, postpartum nourishment comes in the form of "Khavits" — a comforting breakfast dish made with flour, clarified butter, salt, and sugar. Though simple in ingredients, this meal carries the weight of tradition and care.

Khavits is believed to:
✔️Restore energy and strength
✔️Provide comfort and warmth
✔️Offer a moment of soothing ritual during the tender days of postpartum healing

Shared between generations, Khavits represents more than food — it is an offering of love, a way of saying: “We see you. We care for you. You deserve this nourishment.”

Common Threads in Nourishment & Restoration

Across these cultures, we find shared wisdom — a beautiful reminder that while traditions may differ, the heart of postpartum care remains the same: to nourish, to restore, and to hold mothers through one of life’s most tender seasons.

Some of the most meaningful practices woven into these postpartum journeys include:

• Warm, easily digestible foods that comfort the body, aid digestion, and gently rebuild strength from within. These meals aren’t simply about sustenance — they are medicine, chosen with care to promote healing and recovery.
• Herbs and spices thoughtfully incorporated into daily rituals to balance energy, stimulate circulation, and support the body’s natural healing processes. Whether through warming ginger, cleansing black pepper, or calming herbal infusions, these ingredients are chosen with intention.
• Hydration through nourishing teas and broths, helping the body replenish fluids, encourage milk flow, and gently detoxify — an essential part of postpartum healing that soothes both body and spirit.
• Acts of love through food, prepared by family, elders, or the community, creating a space where mothers are not left to navigate this season alone. These offerings are more than meals — they are gestures of care, respect, and devotion, allowing mothers to focus on rest, bonding, and gentle recovery.

Sources:

https://elan.house/blogs/around-the-world-series/around-the-world-series-traditional-malaysian-chinese-birthing-practices-1

https://elan.house/blogs/around-the-world-series/around-the-world-series-traditional-hawaiians-postpartum-practices

https://elan.house/blogs/around-the-world-series/around-the-world-series-cambodian-postpartum-traditions

https://elan.house/blogs/around-the-world-series/around-the-world-series-netherlands-postpartum-traditions

https://elan.house/blogs/around-the-world-series/around-the-world-series-armenian-postpartum-traditions

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