No one told me that confinement was going to be tough and mostly, tiring. Coping with a recovering body and needing to tend to a fragile little baby is no easy feat.

There are plenty of books, online articles and of course videos on how to prepare parents for a newborn baby. However, what seems to be lacking from the equation is the wellbeing of the mother who just went through the rigours of pregnancy and childbirth.

In Malaysia, we have different confinement practices based on our ethnicities. Nevertheless, all are aimed to help a postpartum mum have a speedy recovery for overall psychological, physical and emotional health to enable you to take good care of your newborn. After all, a healthy mum raises a healthy child.

Below are some ideas on how to get by your confinement period. They are based on mine and a few mummies’ past experience and we hope that some could help you in some way or another.

Ask for help

Your wellbeing is the utmost importance, so ask for help whenever you need it. My sis came to visit often and she would go straight to the kitchen to help with the dishes or baby’s bottles. Boy, did that make a world of a difference!

Sleep and rest whenever baby is asleep

My firstborn was the first grandchild, so you could imagine the amount of visitors. In my second confinement, the visitors were a lot less and I realised that limited visitations gave me more shut-eye which means more rest. I also sleep whenever the baby is asleep. Just like your electronics, you need to recharge as well for better performance.

Take special diets to boost your immunity

Childbirth causes the mother to lose energy and blood. Hence, you should follow a healthy and balanced postnatal diet to not only restore your health but also help with breast milk production. I took plenty of fluids, especially warm ones like soups or warm tea. I felt that it also helped in improving my skin’s complexion.

Reduce strain on eyes

I thought it was a myth, but no. Twice postpartum, my vision got blurred. It was frightening because no one told me about it and when I suddenly felt so much strain on my eyes doing the usual things I have taken for granted for. Thank goodness it was only temporary but in the meantime, try to minimise reading, sewing, screen time on electronic devices or any activity that requires squinting.

Massage

This was probably the best part of confinement. Postnatal massages helped me soothe the strains from childbirth, stimulated breastmilk and induced better sleep. It is also said to offer muscle flexibility. Your body was put through a major change, give it some pampering for a job well done!

Use a nursing pillow

Not only is it helpful to relieve the neck and shoulders, mums who underwent cesarean sections (C-section) will also feel less pressure around the tummy area when nursing. I used my nursing pillow for all sorts of purposes such as back support, tailbone cushion pillow and as my little one grew, we used it for her tummy time.

Do not lift heavy objects

At least for a month, until your body regains its strength. Leave the heavy lifting to your partner. After all, you have been carrying your bundle of joy 24 hours a day for the past nine months!

Above else, go at your own pace. Remember that you are trying your very best every step of the way in your journey to learn to get in sync with your baby and their needs. Do not feel like a failure if you don’t get it right immediately. This great milestone in your life will take time to adjust to. So fret not, you are a superhero!