Cultural Food - Special Confinement Meals For After Delivery Care1287115
Among the Asian, many ethnic groups have their own following birth dietary care. This is based on the belief that the health of the mother is considerably weakened throughout the childbearing period and the labour process where lots of blood is lost.
For the Ethnic Chinese, the initial 30 days after child birth is called the 'confinement period'. It is also the most essential 'window period' exactly where the mother's body is able to absorb the required nutrients in it is maximum capacity. Throughout the confinement period, the new mother is to remain at home and steer clear of going out so as to minimise the exposure to wind (adverse weather situation) and crowd.
A live-in confinement lady is generally employed to do the cooking and caring of the mother and the new born.
There are variations in the type of food and the cooking amongst the different dialect groups (or various provinces in China). However, the main components used are essentially the same.
In Chinese Confinement food, the primary components and herbs used are Ginger, wine and black vinegar.
Ginger is thought to possess warm and heaty properties which is needed to 'drive away the winds' in the body. The pores of the skins are believed to have opened up and the joints loosen to prepare for labour and stay in a loose state for a short period following delivery. This is when the 'winds' from the climate will enter the physique if 1 is exposed to a windy atmosphere. The ginger would counter the coolness and the wind effect on the physique.
Black vinegar is used to cleanse the womb of residual blood clot. It is commonly cooked with Ginger and Pig trotters and simmer for a number of hours until the trotters are tender and tasty. This dish is cooked in big pot and eaten over several days.
Wine particularly tonic wine is helpful in warming and nourishing the body. It is also believed to assist in the blood production and circulatory procedure. Consequently, food or soup are cooked with lot of wine and ginger for this purpose.
Confinement mothers are also encouraged to drink tonic wine. If she is breastfeeding, timing of wine consumption will have to be cautiously planned out.
An additional common dish for breastfeeding mum is fish soup cooked with ginger and raw papaya. It is very efficient in inducing milk production by the milk glands.
