My Confinement Period Post Birth.
Growing up in a first-generation Chinese household, I saw the women in my family follow certain rituals after giving birth — rituals that, at the time, felt a little strange to me but now I see as deeply rooted in care, love, and tradition.
One of the most important of these traditions was the practice of eating only warm foods and drinks during the postpartum period, known as “confinement” or zuo yuezi (坐月子), which literally means “sitting the month.”
During confinement, new mothers traditionally avoid cold foods and drinks for at least a month, sometimes longer, because Chinese medicine believes that childbirth leaves a woman’s body “cold” and vulnerable. Eating cold foods or drinking icy beverages is thought to disrupt the body’s balance, slow recovery, and even affect circulation or digestion.
The goal of confinement is to nurture, restore, and strengthen the body, ensuring the mother heals properly and gains energy for the months ahead.
I vividly remember my grandmother and other women in the family preparing special meals that were rich, warm, and deeply nourishing. Some of these meals sounded intimidating to my younger self — like pig’s feet and ginger stew — but each dish was made with intention, designed to replenish nutrients, improve circulation, and keep the body warm and strong.
Even today, as a parent myself, I continue these practices — not just out of respect for tradition, but because I’ve seen and felt their benefits.
I make it a point to pass these rituals down, sharing them with the next generation, so that my child grows up understanding the care and wisdom behind them.
Traditional Postpartum Foods I Grew Up With
1. Chicken Congee
A staple in our household, chicken congee is more than just comfort food. Slow-cooked rice with shredded chicken, ginger, spring onions and sometimes goji berries or dates makes for a warming, easily digestible meal packed with protein and nutrients. Congee is gentle on the stomach, helps rebuild energy, and, in line with Chinese tradition, it’s served warm to support circulation and overall recovery. It’s also been a staple meal since my childhood — whenever we were sick, this was what my family made.
Somehow, after a bowl of it, we always felt instantly better, thanks to its soothing and insulating effects.
My go-to chicken congee recipe which I use every time is by Made With Lau.
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Key Ingredients: Rice, shredded chicken, ginger, goji berries or dates (optional)
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Why it’s beneficial: Gentle on the stomach, warming, and packed with protein and nutrients. Supports energy restoration and circulation during postpartum recovery.
2. Lots of Ginger
Ginger is a powerhouse during the postpartum period. In our family, it’s used in so many ways:
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Sliced fresh in chicken dishes
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Brewed as a tea with brown sugar
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Stir-fried with vegetables or meat
Ginger is believed to warm the body, improve blood circulation, aid digestion, and prevent “cold” from entering the system. Even during menstruation, warm ginger tea is often recommended to ease discomfort.
Why it’s beneficial: Warms the body, aids digestion, improves circulation, and helps prevent cold from entering the system. Also helpful during menstruation.
3. ABC Soup (Vitamin A in Carrots, Vitamin B in Potatoes & Vitamin C in Tomatoes)
ABC soup is simple, nourishing, and easy to prepare. Typically made with chicken or pork bones, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, corn and celery, it’s slow-cooked into a collagen-rich broth. The soup is full of protein and minerals, supporting healing, energy, and overall health. It’s another example of a warm, easily digestible dish that helps new mothers regain strength plus a great soup to heal your little one when they're sick.
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Key Ingredients: Chicken or pork bones, one onion, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, celery, corn.
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Why it’s beneficial: Slow-cooked for a collagen-rich broth, full of protein and minerals. Supports healing, energy, and overall health, while being gentle on digestion.
4. Fruits
Oranges, in particular, were a postpartum staple in my household. Packed with vitamin C, they help strengthen immunity and provide a refreshing burst of energy. Other fruits like pears or longans are also popular, sometimes stewed or eaten in warm teas to maintain the warmth principle of traditional Chinese medicine.
Why it’s beneficial: Packed with vitamin C to strengthen immunity. Stewed pears or longans can also provide warming nourishment.
5. Fish Soup & Tofu
A warm and soothing soup made with tender white fish, soft tofu, and a hint of fresh ginger and coriander. Light yet nourishing, this gentle soup is easy to digest and packed with protein, making it ideal for postpartum recovery or anytime you need a comforting, restorative meal. Optional vegetables can be added for extra vitamins and flavour, keeping the dish both simple and wholesome.
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Key Ingredients: White fish, tofu, ginger, fish or vegetable stock or water, optional vegetables
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Why it’s beneficial: Light, easy to digest, and full of protein — perfect for gentle nourishment.
Other Traditional Asian Postpartum Recipes
Here are a few more examples of warming, nourishing dishes from across Asian cultures, perfect for new parents who want to experiment with different flavors while supporting postpartum recovery:
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Black sesame soup or paste – rich in calcium and minerals, believed to nourish blood and hair.
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Red date tea – often paired with ginger; supports energy, circulation, and blood replenishment.
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Pig liver or chicken liver stir-fry – high in iron, used to restore blood.
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Lotus seed and red bean porridge – sweet, warming, and good for digestion and energy restoration.
Carrying Tradition Forward
These foods are more than recipes — they are a way of caring for the body, honouring ancestors, and passing down wisdom from one generation to the next. Even in a modern household, keeping these rituals alive helps connect us to our heritage and provides comfort and nourishment during a time of great change.
For me, postpartum eating and confinement isn’t about restriction or rigidity; it’s about intention, warmth, and care — both for the body and the soul. And as I continue these practices with my own family, I hope to give my children not just meals, but a legacy of love, health, and tradition that they can carry forward too. 💛