From France to India, postpartum care is a balance of local traditions and modern science

Bringing a life into the world is a feeling a mother cannot explain in words. While holding a baby is a euphoric feeling for new parents, nobody can deny the hard work, pain and patience that a mother goes through during pregnancy and childbirth.

A mother carries her baby for 9 months while she goes through a drastic change mentally and physically. While many countries advocate healthy routines, break from work, diet change among other things during pregnancy, not many talk about postpartum recovery.

The traditions post childbirth across the world vary depending on the respective country. While some are modern, some techniques are old and passed on across generations to make sure the mother receives utmost care, attention and rest to recover.


China
In China, there's a month-long resting period for new mothers called Zuo Yuezi where women have to follow a typical routine specifying what to eat, drink and activities.

During this postpartum period, new moms are not allowed to have cold water, raw fruits and vegetables. They drink soups and broths that are meant to aid in lactation. The new mothers are also not allowed to bathe for a month. Behavioural precautions also include staying inside the house, avoiding housework and not seeing many visitors.

The moms are also asked to wear warm clothing such as socks, pajamas which is supposed to help with her yin and yang and strengthen the newborn baby.

India
Traditionally, India follows postpartum confinement which requires the mother and her baby to stay confined in a house for 40 to 60 days to prevent exposure to infectious diseases. The mother is fed a nourishing diet that is easy to digest and that will keep her body warm. During his period, the mom is asked to bathe with herbal infusions and avoid soap.

They are also given special massage every day using oil blends to help with the recovery and give their body the much needed rest and strengthening.

Latin American
For postpartum recovery, Mexico follows a 30-day resting period called 'cuarentena' with family. During this period, the mother recovers from labour, and bonds with her baby. While following 'cuarentena', sex is a big no-no, while rest is mandated and food is divided into carrots, chicken soup. Spices are forbidden.

The mother has to cover her head, neck with garments and wrap her abdomen in a cloth called a 'faja'. She is also suggested to not wash her hair.

France
Whereas in France, mothers receive routine house calls from nurses to monitor their medications and draw blood for tests. They also receive prescriptions, a physical therapy that retrains pelvic floor muscles. It's simpler with French women after childbirth - cheese, wine, dry pants and croissants.

Japan
Japanese have a very distinctive childbirth ritual called 'satogaeri bunben' where the pregnant woman returns to the family home for the delivery of the child and then stays there until recovery where she receives special care, support, rest and psychological peace for a few months.

During this period, the new father is separated from the family.