Thanks for bringing this up. A big issue for everyone of us Malaysians. First, Eirian, a Scottish midwife (a MNM member from Penang) told me that it is good that we have our one month/40 days confinement practice. She had spent many years helping our local mothers, especially from the rural areas with their post-natal recovery including breastfeeding. She said it is good that we have the chance to get a full rest, full recovery and being pampered. Unlike the Western ladies, they had to return home and cope alone just like another day. So, must be thankful we got a whole month to ‘enjoy’ our confinement.

As for me, I follow the no drinking plain water, eat special foods and alcohol, lie as much as I can afford. But I also curi-curi wash my hair alternate days and started driving less than 2 weeks post c-sec. And for me, my mother was my spy. Each day when I want to bath (when I had my first 2 sons), I will ask her to watch out that my mil did not pop in unannounced. Once mil pop in and my mother actually lied to her that I am in the toilet doing big business in the loudest voice so that I can come out with the same lie!

The traditional practice can be a real nuisance though. My eldest sil who took care of me when I had Matthew forbid me to even touch my computer. She said nanti all my fingers will be painful in old age.

As for joint pains, I do get them now and wonder if I had been naughty and bath in my aircond hospital room, including washing hair, at 8 am, 4 days after c-sec. But then, my two elders sisters who followed every one of the pantang larang without rebelling also got the pains.

And yeah, Topaz once pointed out that the Mat Salleh ladies have more arthritis problem than us do.

My opinion is to follow as much as a person can endure.
_________________
Lilian (co-owner, moderator and mom of 5)