A look at what some Chinese women do after having babies.

If you were to talk to many women in the Post partum period for the first month after having a baby, you would note there is  is a "cultural" regimen that is strictly adhered to in many Asian countries. In China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, there are even specialised centres that look after women in those first 30 days and give them particular food requirements that are " cold" instead of "hot" in the traditional Chinese nomenclature.

The general rules are that a women should stay inside for the first 30 days, avoid contact with people, avoid bathing and hairwashing, and generally rest and recover from the pregnancy and delivery.

How this translates into modern day living is an interesting point. It makes sense that in early days, the avoidance of toxins, waterbourne diseases and communicable illness, especially when swine flu and bird flu and horse flu and general man flu is around was probably a good idea. additionally , even post caesarean section, it is a good idea to recover and really just rest up after what amounts to major surgery.

For may women, the option of staying indoors is nearing impossible, as even the tasks of  household management becomes very awkward. And even in this day and age of outsourcing and internet shopping, all the practical stuff still needs to get done.

So, a good mix of getting a lot of rest, asking for help, outsourcing domestic task even for a short period is probably the best balance.