My Life. My Stories

Every Chinese women especially in Asia need to undergo confinement for a period of 30 days once she gave birth to a baby. Malaysian Chinese women still practicing a strict common traditional post-natal confinement concept. There are many traditional confinement rules to practice although some are no medical logic. Some old-fashioned Chinese confinement taboos and restrictions such as no shower, no washing hair, no going out, no air-conditioner or fan in the room and bathing only with water specially infused herbs for a whole month. Old people believe it will result in mother's health problems when she gets older nor issues in conceiving another baby. Before I delivery, I still thinking how I going to adhere to all those rules and restrictions. I had bath with a herbal water prepared by my confinement lady on third day but i was scolded when my mom heard. After bath, my left leg and hand and the joint were pain from inner bones and last for a month. I started to believe how true

When come to 37 weeks of pregnancy, my hubby and I started to guess when will our little one ready to come out and meet us. We were panic when my doctor told me that I may deliver at week 37 or 38 as my belly seem like harden. I have to opt for confinement center in case I  deliver any day early than week 40 because my appointed confinement aunt will only come at week 40 that is on 10th of Chinese New Year. Since week 37, we are waiting everyday. Here goat year came yet no delivery sign. Lucky, I still can enjoy the Chinese New Year food, cookies and shopping! But we started to get worried when came to week 40. The baby is post date! I started to search how to induce labor naturally. I tried climb staircase 50 floors, walking alot, eat spice curry, vineger, very concentrated honey (100ml honey+100ml water) but all not working on me. My cervix still not rippen and it was only 1cm. I admited to hospital on Monday to go for inducing labour. The doctor checked and the cervix was op