TCM Confinement and Personalised
Confinement Herbs in Singapore
Welcoming a newborn into the world is a joyful and exciting experience for mothers. However, the process of labour and the postpartum period that follows may significantly affect a mother’s physical and emotional well-being. During postpartum, rest and recuperation are essential for a mother to regain her strength and care for her newborn child.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), confinement is a period that typically lasts around 28 days, where the mother follows a specific diet and receives integrated treatments aimed at fully restoring her internal balance. Discover more about confinement from a TCM perspective and what our TCM confinement package typically includes below.
What Is TCM Confinement?
Confinement, or zuo yue zi (坐月子), is a practice rooted in TCM that focuses on supporting your body’s natural recovery after childbirth. According to TCM, childbirth is a process which causes a significant imbalance in the body due to depletion of Qi and blood, requiring substantial practices to slowly recover while getting accustomed to motherhood.
Confinement may last 28 to 30 days, or be extended to six weeks for caesarean births. During this period, mothers are advised to consume warming foods, confinement herbs, and have gentle treatments such as herbal baths and massage or tui na, aimed to restore their pre-pregnancy state. Proper confinement after childbirth is also believed to help reduce tiredness, support immunity, and ease joint pain over time.
Confinement Tips
Here are some TCM-based guidelines for confinement:
- Rest and avoid cold: The new mother should rest as much as possible during confinement and avoid exposure to cold, which is believed to weaken the body’s energy. This means avoiding cold foods and drinks, cold drafts, and air conditioning.
- Eat warming foods: TCM recommends that new mothers eat warming foods such as soups, stews, and congee, which are believed to nourish the body and help it recover. These foods are often made with ginger, garlic, and other warming spices.
- Avoid raw and spicy foods: Raw and spicy foods are believed to be too stimulating for the body during confinement and can disrupt the body’s energy balance. New mothers are advised to avoid these foods during confinement.
- Drink herbal teas: TCM practitioners often recommend drinking herbal teas during confinement to help the body recover. Some common herbs used in postpartum teas include ginger, goji berries, and red dates.
- Massage and acupuncture: TCM also recommends massage and acupuncture during confinement to help promote healing and balance the body’s energy. These practices can help relieve pain, improve circulation, and reduce stress.
- Avoid strenuous activity: New mothers should avoid strenuous activity during confinement and focus on resting and recovering. This means avoiding heavy lifting, exercise, and other activities that could strain the body.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids is important during confinement to help the body recover and produce breast milk if the mother chooses to breastfeed.
It’s important to note that every new mother’s experience is unique, and TCM-based guidelines for confinement may vary depending on individual health needs and preferences. It’s always a good idea to consult with a TCM practitioner or other healthcare provider to determine the best course of action for postpartum recovery.
Confinement Packages
TCM Customized Confinement Package
Price: $550.00 (excl. GST)
Our customized confinement package is designed to meet the unique needs of each new mother, especially for those who may have experienced complications during pregnancy or childbirth, such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. We understand that every mother has different dietary and health requirements, and we strive to tailor our confinement package to meet those individual needs. With our customized package, you can rest assured that your specific needs and preferences will be taken into account to provide you with the best possible care during your postpartum recovery. Contact us to learn more about how we can support you during this important time.
The package comes with the following:
- A consultation with our Physician before your delivery
- 28 Days of convenient powdered medication, customized and tailored to your body needs, no brewing required
- Maternity bag
What's Included in Our TCM Confinement Package
While there are various confinement herbs that mothers can get off-the-rack, we offer personalised TCM confinement packages tailored to individual needs.
1. Customised Herbal Medicine
We personalise herbal medicines based on your recovery needs, which may be different for mothers who deliver by natural birth or caesarean delivery. We also customise the ingredients based on each individual’s strength condition, if you are severely weak or have a slower recovery, as well as your digestion patterns.
These medicines may be in the form of teas and soups that can be conveniently prepared in a few simple steps. They help warm the womb, replenish your Qi, and improve blood circulation. Routine consumption throughout confinement may help to restore overall vitality. Additionally, customised herbal medicine is a targeted treatment based on a person’s constitution, unlike generic herbal formulations. This ensures treatment will be more effective without causing significant discomfort or side effects.
1. Herbal Bath
According to TCM, postpartum mothers are more vulnerable to cold invasion. A TCM confinement herbal bath helps expel excess cold from the body. Adding these herbs to your bathwater is a traditional practice known to support circulation and provide comfort.
Commonly Used Confinement Herbs
The confinement herbs we prescribe are carefully selected by TCM practitioners based on their benefits to address imbalances and aid with recovery. They include:
- Hong Zao (红枣): Red dates are used to help tonify blood, boost energy, and support digestion. Their mildly sweet taste also helps comfort mothers when consumed in soups or teas.
- Sheng Hua Tang (生化汤): A common remedy which may help expel lochia and promote uterine healing.
- Ba Zhen Tang (八珍汤): Also known as Eight Treasure Soup, this herbal soup may help tonify Qi, nourish blood, and promote lactation for new mothers.
- Si Shen Tang (四神汤): May be given to help strengthen the spleen and stomach, aiding in nutrient absorption and nourishment.
Healing Stages during Confinement
TCM views healing after confinement as three different stages, which are:
1. Uterus Recovery
During the uterus recovery stage, which takes up to 6 days after delivery, the mother’s body may be highly vulnerable due to the hormonal changes taking place. During pregnancy, the growth of the foetus also places a high demand on the mother’s kidney and circulatory system which may leave the mother’s body deficient in yin and blood once she enters postpartum. TCM confinement practices to support mothers during this stage include gently introducing Chinese herbs that eventually help set the foundation for stronger recovery.
2. Digestive Wellness and Breastfeeding
7 to 21 days after delivery, breastfeeding may deplete the mother’s blood of nutrients and overwork organs such as the spleen, which may cause her to deal with fatigue and indigestion. Thus, the second healing stage should focus on replenishing the Qi and blood, warming the body, and maintaining a healthy digestion, which ensures a steady flow of breastmilk for the baby’s health. It is also important to prevent the invasion of “wind-cold-dampness” (风寒湿) that may cause further pain.
3. Vitality Boost
The last healing stage happens 22 to 28 days after delivery, or more depending on the mother’s recovery. At this point, the focus of confinement and the herbs prescribed is to nourish the liver and kidneys, which may improve blood composition and reduce water retention. This may in turn help strengthen the joints and muscles, ensuring smooth circulation and restoring overall vitality.
Our Diagnosis Before Confinement Herbs
Our personalised confinement care begins before childbirth. We typically begin consultations at weeks 32-36 of pregnancy, taking your pulse and performing a tongue assessment. This helps us understand a mother’s overall health, along with any existing conditions such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. We also take note of your dietary and health requirements so that we can tailor our confinement package to meet your needs. Our TCM practitioners are also happy to advise you on your confinement diet, ensuring you nourish your body with the right foods during this important stage.
Being a mother is a brand-new experience that can be both rewarding and exhausting. At Yi TCM, we understand that properly nourishing the body from within helps a mother recover and get the support she needs during the crucial first month after their baby arrives. Our personalised confinement packages are aimed at restoring your health and the well-being of your newborn. Contact us today for a personalised consultation and start your TCM confinement journey with us.