Around the World Series | Rest
REST
Rest is a cornerstone of postpartum recovery across many cultures, ensuring that new mothers are given the space, care, and time they need to heal. This April, we’re spotlighting REST—exploring how different traditions across the world prioritise postpartum confinement and recuperation.
Chinese Postpartum Tradition: Sitting the Month (Zuò Yuè Zi)
In Chinese culture, postpartum recovery is deeply rooted in the practice of Zuò Yuè Zi, or "sitting the month." This involves a strict confinement period of about 30 to 40 days, where new mothers are encouraged to stay indoors, rest, and avoid exposure to cold. Warmth and stillness are central to this tradition, as it is believed that the body is in a vulnerable state after childbirth and needs ample time to recover. This practice also includes assistance from family members, ensuring that the mother can focus solely on rest and bonding with her baby.
Global Traditions Reflecting Postpartum Rest
Many cultures share similar postpartum traditions that emphasise the importance of rest and recovery. Let’s take a closer look at how different societies honor this sacred period:
Vietnamese Postpartum Tradition: Balancing Am and Duong
In Vietnam, postpartum confinement can last from 30 to 100 days. Rooted in the belief that childbirth leaves a mother in a ‘cold’ (duong) state due to blood loss, traditional postpartum care focuses on restoring warmth through healing practices. Mothers adhere to specific rituals, including warm herbal baths and avoiding cold exposure, to ensure a balanced recovery. This closely mirrors the Chinese belief in maintaining warmth and harmony in the body.
Korean Postpartum Tradition: Saam-Chil-Il (Three-Seven Days Ritual)
Korean mothers observe the Saam-Chil-Il ritual, a three-week period dedicated to full rest. During this time, visitors are discouraged, allowing mothers to focus on bonding with their baby and regaining strength. Keeping warm is a key practice, with new mothers often staying in heated rooms—even during summer—to promote recovery. Like Chinese and Vietnamese practices, the emphasis on warmth and stillness is central to postpartum care.
Indian Postpartum Tradition: A Six-Week Confinement
Similar to Chinese postpartum practices, Indian mothers traditionally observe a six-week confinement period. This sacred time fosters deep bonding between mother and baby while ensuring the mother receives care from her family. Warm oil massages, a restful environment, and avoiding strenuous activity are key elements of this practice. The emphasis on structured rest aligns closely with Chinese and other Asian postpartum traditions.
Latin American Postpartum Tradition: La Cuarentena (The Quarantine)
In Latin America, new mothers embrace La Cuarentena, a 40-day period of postpartum rest. Just like the Chinese practice of 'sitting the month,' La Cuarentena encourages new mothers to prioritise healing and bonding. Family and community play a vital role in ensuring the mother is cared for and shielded from external stressors. The focus on uninterrupted rest and the support of loved ones makes this tradition deeply aligned with other global postpartum practices.
Common Threads in Postpartum Rest
Across these diverse cultures, common themes emerge:
Rest & Recuperation: Mothers are encouraged to step away from daily responsibilities and focus on healing.
Warmth & Environment: From heated rooms in Korea to warm herbal baths in Vietnam, maintaining a warm and restful space is seen as essential to postpartum recovery.
Family & Community Support: Whether it’s a mother’s family in India or a strong communal network in Latin America, ensuring the mother has the time and space to rest is a priority in postpartum traditions.
As we highlight REST this month, we invite you to reflect on these global practices and consider how we can reclaim the sacredness of postpartum recovery in modern times. How do you or your loved ones incorporate rest into postpartum care?
Let’s continue to nurture the nurturer.
You Are Worthy of Rest
As mothers, we are deserving of rest beyond the first six weeks postpartum. Let rest reignite a primal, ancient connection to your body, your instincts, your intuition—and remember the feeling of being deeply satiated by your life. Soak in those precious moments with those most important to you, free from the constant struggle of pursuing endless growth. Take this as a chance to shift gears, let go, and just be.
You are worthy of rest… for your children, for your partner, for your friends, for generations to come, but most importantly, for YOU. Desiring rest is not your weakness—it is your intuition’s superpower. Let’s create a future where all women, today and tomorrow, answer the call to REST.
📽️ Watch the full campaign video, ‘You Are Worthy of Rest’ here: YouTube Link
📲 Explore more from our REST campaign:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C62NP-EPqIr/?img_index=6
https://www.instagram.com/p/C62w7iqLgD9/
See Instagram post here.