According to a report by the American \”Christian Science Monitor\” on May 7, as Mother\’s Day approaches on May 13, the \”Christian Science Monitor\” website published an article titled \”Forget Mother\’s Day!\” In China, the gift they get is the report of confinement.
China’s tradition of confinement comes as a surprise to many Westerners. In the first month after giving birth, Chinese mothers do not have to do anything but stay at home to recuperate. In summer, they can\’t use air conditioning or take a shower. On the one hand, this is a gift to them, but on the other hand, it also makes them suffer a lot.
Traditionally, during the confinement period, it is the mother who takes care of her mother, cooking, doing housework, and taking care of the children. During confinement, special foods, such as eggs, are believed to bring strength to the mother. They should also drink warm or hot water as drinking cold water is not good for their health.
Many foreign women giving birth in China are hesitant to accept the ban. Canadian female musician Ember Swift is married to a Chinese and lives in Beijing. In a recent article in a Beijing children\’s magazine, she said she was surprised that her husband thought she should abide by the Chinese confinement tradition. After giving birth, she became so angry at the restrictions that she agreed with her husband on a daily exercise plan to take the stairs.
In recent years, Chinese people have discovered business opportunities from confinement, and many companies have emerged that provide confinement facilities for pregnant women. For example, a maternal and child health center in Beijing provides mothers with six meals a day, teaches them knowledge about diet and child care, and provides meticulous care for mothers and babies. Mothers who choose to confine themselves at home can hire a confinement nanny, with a monthly salary of up to US$2,000 (approximately RMB 12,578).