CONFINEMENT CHRONICLES • Jennifer

Discover our new limited series, the Confinement Series where we share the experience of mothers who practiced varied forms of Chinese Confinement. Whether it is within a postpartum care centre or in the comfort of their own home with the support of family, this series will spotlight how these new mothers draw on the concept of 'Sitting the Month'. Through the experiences of these women, we highlight the importance of our postpartum care pillars while practicing confinement:

Ritual and Celebrate
Rest and Retreat
Nourish and Restore
Support
Empower and Enlighten

Jennifer’s confinement journey was rooted in rest, nourishment, and the loving support of her family, friends, and doula. From traditional healing foods to tender moments of being cared for by her parents, her experience shows how powerful confinement can be in restoring both body and spirit during the early weeks of motherhood.

How were you supported by your loved ones?
(partner, immediate family, extended family, friends)

My friends and family all knew that I wanted to practice confinement postpartum and were so all so supportive. My partner was present, my parents brought food over every day and helped out with household tasks, and my friends arranged a meal train for when our postpartum doula finished up her journey with us.

What did you find most valuable about the confinement experience?

I truly believe that how a woman recovers postpartum can set up her health for the rest of her life. pregnancy, birth and postpartum especially if breastfeeding takes up such a huge amount of vital energy. From naturopathic perspective, it’s such a huge demand on all the body’s systems and nutrients. The most valuable experience was the nutrition.

How did you go about finding a confinement nanny to support you?

We had our doula home birth and postpartum doula Olivia Towning support us throughout. She dropped off nourishing food every few days to our door.

Can you share some pros and cons of your home confinement and being cared for by a family member/ confinement nanny?

The pros were the deep rest that you got to have, especially as a first time mum and the steep learning curve that you have to go through! Another unexpected pro was how healing it would be for my relationship with my parents. To be cared for by them during such a vulnerable time gave me so much appreciation and respect for all that they have done for me in my lifetime.

Con’s was staying inside the whole time! I did venture outside for a walk up and down my street at 3.5 weeks. Sun is also vital for circadian rhythm and neurotransmitter regulation so I did spend some mornings out on my balcony soaking in the rays.

 

What food were you fed?

My parents were guided by our family TCM doctor and prepared some of the traditional foods - ginger fried rice, sweet and black vinegar eggs and pork trotters, papaya fish soup, pork bone soup. My doula also prepared nutrient dense whole food meals such as chicken soup, Korean seaweed and beef soup, osso bucco, stews, Dahl, Nepalese rice pudding. All warm, easy to digest and fortifying meals.

Were there any rules/myths that you observed throughout your confinement?

Staying warm, keeping feet and womb covered was imperative! I also found that warmth and blood flow felt better and supported the perineal swelling and stitches healing better than cold/icing.

Were you surprised by anything from your confinement period? 

How much I needed it! I had absoloutely no desire to leave the house in those first few weeks.

Did you seek any support from people outside your family?
(Doula, massage therapist, lactation consultant etc.)? 

All 3 are so intertwined for me. Birth really rocked me in all these aspects, but confinement gave me the opportunity to process and integrate these changes while being supported.

Were you well prepared for your postpartum?

Between my doula, parents, friends and our own preparation yes I would say I was!

What would you do differently next time / advise another first-time mom to be about their postpartum period?

If there’s any time in your life to ask for help - it will be during postpartum! Don’t be afraid to ask. You will reciprocate the support when the time comes 🤍

Did you seek any support from people outside your family? (Doula, massage therapist, lactation consultant etc.)?

I did see my pelvic floor physio and lactation consultation during this time. I found both also so important for navigating the huge physical changes as a first time mum.

List out any positives and negatives from your confinement period? 

To be honest all only positive. I would do it all again.

How did you feel coming out of confinement? Did you feel empowered and confident or did it feel like a lot of support was suddenly taken away?

I didn’t have a set date for the end of the period, so took it slow and when I felt ready around 4-5 weeks I started venturing out and experiencing things again for the first time with my baby and family.

 

See Instagram post here.