May 29
What is a Chinese postpartum nanny, and what are the benefits?
Chinese postpartum nannies originated from China. The Chinese call it Zuo Yue Zi, which means to “sit a month.” The tradition has been practiced since the year 960. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that blood carries your chi, or your “life force,” which affects all the functions of the body. When you lose blood, you also lose chi, and this causes your body to go into a state of yin/cold. When yin (cold) and yang (hot) are out of balance, your body will often suffer physical disorders.
So the practice is all about confining a mother to her house, so she can rest and recover after giving birth and to avoid any physical disorders. There are certain things that are restricted during this time such as diet and lifestyle which are practiced after birth to restore a woman’s “broken body.” Most practices are related to restoring the blood and fluid loss which results from giving birth.
For one whole month, the mother is confined to her house to recover and recuperate after giving birth. The confinement nanny, or Yuesao, looks after the baby, giving the mother ample time to rest. Everything is carefully taken care of by the confinement nanny, it is a complete service which caters to the mother and baby’s every need.
The night nurse takes care of many things including:
- cleaning the baby’s toys
- cleaning bottles
- keeping track of baby’s bowel movements
- feeding baby
- preparing nourishing meals for the mother
- changing diapers
- soothing the baby
As it is important for the mother to get back on her feet as soon as she can, the confinement nanny looks after the mother with care and thoughtfulness. The nanny prepares special meals which are low in salt with steamed vegetables, healthy whole grains, lean protein and plenty of fluids.
The mother eats these meals to regain her strength and vigour after losing a lot of nutrients from the birthing process. The mother should be aware not to get too hot or too cold which is consistent with the tradition, using air-conditioning or a heater, but instead maintain a balance. There is a very strict culture from China which says the mother cannot shower, brush teeth or hair and to not using an air-conditioner. However, in more liberal Chinese families these things are allowed. It really does depend on how you are raised and where you are from.
Whilst the mother is catching up on sleep and eating nutritious meals, the postpartum nanny cares for the baby, feeding them regularly, changing their diapers and soothing them. The idea is to get the mother and baby accustomed to a routine. Having a routine is important after the nanny leaves so mother and baby are both in sync.
Anne CC Lee is an American-born Chinese paediatrician working in the department of newborn medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Speaking from personal experience, she believes the parental help provided to her enabled her to get the much-needed rest and the energy to be able to take better care of her newborn. Eventually she returned to her family and her work feeling much stronger. Her parents are Westernized and liberal with the interpretation of zuo yue zi, and fortunately allowed her air conditioning (as long as it wasn’t blowing directly on the baby), showers and to surf the internet.
“Lee points out that Eastern and Western cultures share common customs in the postpartum period — promoting nutrition, hydration and rest, and avoiding infectious exposures. “Many zuo yue zi traditions are beneficial for the mother and newborn, such as eating protein-rich foods, avoiding strenuous physical activity and restricting visitors to allow recuperation and reduce risk for infections,” she says.” (washingtonpost.com)
Shuqi Zhuang, reportedly the first woman to become a traditional Chinese medicine physician in Taiwan, believes that proper postpartum recovery is critical for a woman’s health. Zue yue zi can help in repairing damage done after previous pregnancies and protect against haemorrhoids, uterine prolapse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, premature ageing and body aches.
There are various benefits for the mother and baby from following zuo yue zi:
- protects mothers and newborns from unnecessary infections
- protects against health complications of new mothers
- provides a faster way to recover for mothers after having a baby
- increases the mother’s enjoyment of motherhood
- reduces fatigue and exhaustion of new moms
- improves milk supply to the baby
- helps in developing a routine for the baby and mother
As you can see, there are numerous benefits for following zuo yue zi and having a confinement nanny. There are other benefits too, as well, such as help when it comes to the language barrier, especially for Chinese mothers who need someone who is understanding and with a similar ethnic background. Generally, it is the grandmother which helps the mother during the confinement period, but in some cases, where the grandmother is not available, mother’s can hire a live-in postpartum nanny to meet their needs.
“In China, affluent women are willing to spend up to $27,000 in luxurious centres that specialize in zuo yue zi. In the United States, women can pay up to $7,000 to stay at zuo yue zi centers. Mothers may spend about $3,000 (excluding food and transportation expenses) to hire a nanny for 30 days.” (washingtonpost.com)
If they choose to fly in an experienced confinement nanny from China, the cost obviously soars because of flights, visa costs and transportation. If the mother wants meals delivered, they will need to spend between $2,000 and $4,000 to have a month’s worth of special postpartum meals delivered to their home.
Leslie Hsu Oh spent a month recouperating after giving birth, below is her experience of the meal delivery service from Jing Mommy, a postpartum meal service based in California.
“The 94 pound box delivered from Jing Mommy included seven freezer bags, one for each day of that week. Each offered a daily pre-made meal of breakfast (congee, egg), lunch (fish soup, entrée made from “yang” foods such as ginseng, vegetables and rice), dinner (a specialized soup of internal organs such as pig trotters or liver, a sesame oil soup, vegetables, rice), two desserts and herbal drinks. It was enough for all of us; we just had to microwave the meals.” (washingtonpost.com)
Really, the choice is yours. You can choose to hire a live -in postpartum nanny, which cares for your baby and prepares special meals for you. You may choose to fly in a nanny from overseas, or you can just purchase postpartum meals which will last for a whole month. If you have additional funds then you may like to stay in a special zuo yue zi center which takes care of absolutely everything for you as a new Mom. All you need to do is bring your toothbrush and some clothes, and of course your baby. But be prepared to pay through the nose for a service like this. It all is really relative, depending on your budget and personal preferences.
There are many places where you can hire a postpartum nanny in America, such as Postpartum Nanny, (www.postpartumnanny.com). You may need to search for a local postpartum meal service in your state or city, as meals are often freshly prepared the morning of your delivery.
Wishing you well during your postpartum recovery!
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