Sitting the Month - Part 1

Taiwan’s postpartum confinement tradition (Sitting the month)

by Ting Ting Lee, Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher.

It is our traditional belief that childbirth is a major physical expenditure for women. In traditional Chinese medicine and the lifestyle of ancient agricultural societies, people believe that pregnancy and childbirth consumed a significant amount of a woman’s Qi (vital energy), blood and physical strength. As a result, a woman was considered especially vulnerable and weakened after giving birth:

  1. Childbirth involves substantial blood loss.

  2. Vital energy is depleted.

  3. The body’s cell pores are believed to be wide open after delivery (as it involved energy depleted, as after intense physical workout).

  4. Women are thought to be more susceptible to “wind” and “cold” invading the body.




For the above reasons, a period of rest and recovery is considered necessary to help the body return to its pre-pregnancy condition.

Traditionally, it was believed that the body requires approximately 30 days to complete a full recovery cycle after childbirth and it is basically aligned with women’s menstruation cycle.

Interestingly, modern medicine also recognizes that postpartum recovery takes time:

  • The uterus typically needs about six weeks to return to its original size.

  • Hormones may take several weeks or even months to rebalance.

  • Wounds and pelvic tissues require time to heal.

Although the explanation differs, both traditional and modern perspective agree that adequate rest after childbirth is important.

In an Agricultural Society, the communities demand heavy physical household and farm work. If a woman returned to farm work or heavy labor too soon after giving birth, it could lead to physical weakness, infection or long-term health problems.

Some postpartum complications that deserve particular attention include:

  • Pelvic floor weakness (which may lead to urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse)

  • Chronic lower back pain (especially before menstruation after birth)

  • Diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles)

  • Anemia

  • Postpartum depression or anxiety

  • Poor wound healing (such as from a cesarean section or episiotomy)

In ancient rural communities, the medical resources were limited, and nutritious food was not always readily available. As a result, families would often arrange for the new mother to rest while other women in the communities helped care for her and the baby. In many ways, this served as a form of family protection and support.




Traditional Postpartum Restrictions

Older generations often advise new mothers to:

  • Avoid excessive exposure to wind or drafts. (To protect the joints during the hormonal adjustment period)

  • Avoid contact with cold water.

  • Get plenty of rest.

  • Avoid lifting heavy objects. (Pelvic floor weakness)

  • Avoid overexertion or excessive physical activity.

These recommendations are part of traditional practices and are intended to support recovery after child birth.






Suzanne Carson