My version of Chinese confinement do’s and don’ts, the modern way part 1

It took me a long time to decide whether if i should start this post. It’s going to be a long one and not sure if i was able to finish to say what i had in mind. There are still many people out there that’s practicing the typical way of how Chinese people would do their confinement. Why do i say that, maybe i’m not your everyday typical Chinese people. My family particular is just very modern especially my mom. She’s been a babysitter for the longest time i can remember and very well experienced (and of course she loves kids) I just feel that what’s brought back from the past, the superstitious beliefs that’s getting a little ridiculous these days.

After giving birth, people are afraid of “not taking care of the recovery of the body (po, nourishing)” There for they just try to drink or eat as many herbal stuff as much as possible. Too much of anything is no good and not enough is also not good either.

Let’s start

Herbs herbs herbs…..

Yes we need them BUT gotta be careful these days there are a lot of preservatives in the herbs. They inject the preservatives so that the herbs can last longer. My mom advices that put in boiling water so that the chemicals can come out.  So be careful when selecting your herbs. The most common herbs are “tong kuai”  which is the main ingredient for confinement woman to take in their soup. My mom only made it once for me to drink in the soup.  As long as you’ve consume it, it’s consider taken inside your body. Don’t have to drink it everyday, and not like it taste nice

Red dates

Usually after giving birth, either natural or a c section you will find it difficult to pee for the first few days. I find red dates juice very helpful. It helps to clear the bladder and replenish your blood. I drank red date juice right after i got home and it’s suppose to substitute water for the first few weeks. Drinking just water can get wind into your stomach (trying to get the wind out not in)  I had a c section and i had a catheter. After removing it you will find it hard to pee for a couple of hours some for days. After drinking red dates juice no problem for me.

Ginger fried rice

One of my favorite confinement food is ginger fried rice. My mom makes awesome ginger fried rice. This pic above is not what my mom made but you get the idea. Actually the ginger in the pic is way too little more like for normal eating. Mom fried the ginger together in the rice, not only it has a great aroma it taste good too. I especially love the bacon and luncheon meat in it. Back in the days people eat this for their lunch everyday during confinement. Till now occasionally i’ll ask mom to whip up this fried rice for me

Chinese white/yellow wine chicken

It’s a must have dish during confinement. Well… it’s not a taste for everyone but it’s not that bad, really. It all depends on how the cook cooks it. Once again i like how my mom does it, so no complaints from me. She even spurs it up with a dry version of it. Quite interesting and still tasty. Most of the time will look like the picture above, just eat the chicken and drink the soup and everything else in it if you can. You can either have it like that or with rice.

Double Broil chicken soup

Everyday for at least one month, you should have broil chicken soup or some sort of broil soup. It is very important cause it replenishes and nourishes your inner body. My favorite besides chicken soup is black bean soup. It replenishes blood in your body. People say during confinement if you don’t replenish your body well or healthy enough, after confinement you body will still be weak. How to clarify that, simple. You will feel cold, achy bones, easily tired, headache, back pain, skin looks dull, you get the idea. If you have a well and healthy confinement you will have that redness in your cheeks, not easily tired, don’t feel cold and etc. So far so good for me, i do have the healthy glow and i don’t feel cold. For the 1st week after delivering, i went back to the doctor for a check up and the doctor says, you don’t look like a person that just given birth, lol. Usually you will feel cold, so i’ve heard but didn’t happen to me. I had double broiled soup for 1 and half months, i got so use to it until my mom stop, i was like what? today no soup ar?

Black vinegar trotter

Also known as chu keok chou. One of the dish to release wind in the body. I’m sure a lot of the older people will enjoy this dish. I’m sure you have heard, when are you cooking chu keok chou bring some over, hehe. To me it taste more or less like bak kut tea but with vinegar.

DOM

If you are wondering why people drink this? It’s suppose to warm your body. Since giving birth a lot of wind has entered. This is to warm it back up. For those that have not tried this, let me tell you it does not taste that bad. The smell is very strong(don’t judge by smell) but the taste is OK. It’s sweet with strong alcohol smell. In fact a little too sweet for me. Since i drink occasionally i prefer drinking ginseng marinated with brandy. A lot of people drank it the wrong way. 1 Pack and try to gulp it down. It’s 1 pack and MIX with water. Not too much water but whatever you can take, not too diluted. The first few times when you drink it, you may find a little difficult but after a couple of times you’ll be fine. Then try not to mix with too much water (slowly adjust) When you drink it you can feel the warmth going down your body, hehe. I drink it when i take my afternoon naps, cause i have to take care of baby at night. You will feel very sleepy, after all it is alcohol. Some find it easy to drink some find it really difficult, i’m OK as long as it’s not bitter i’m good. Adjust to your own liking.

Recommended key ingredients for cooking the above:

Bentong ginger

Black chicken

Fresh yellow ginger

Yellow rice wine

I just realized that it’s been so long and i’ve just talked about food only, lol so moving on to part 2 soon

Confinement service from Ipoh:

Very well experienced modern lady in her 50′s. Cook very good confinement food

Cooking confinement food available for delivery (3 meals a day for 1 month)

Daytime confinement (pui yuet) (9am-6pm) for 1 month.

For yummy healthy food enquiries kindly contact Doris – 017 579 6789

Part 2