Active patients: The integration of modern and traditional obstetric practices in Nepal

Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review

“…Special tonics are sometimes used during the postpartum period, consisting of herbs or foods with special medicinal properties. In Nepal, sathora , a herbal tonic, and haluua , a kind of wheat semolina with added heating substances such as ginger, cumin and turmeric, are used to promote milk production, warm the mother and expel childbirth blood [41]. Malaysian mothers also use ‘hot’ herbal medicines [42].…”

“…For example, in Nepal, warming foods such as heated milk are given immediately following delivery. To avoid indigestion and diarrhea, foods such as rice cannot be eaten until the second or third day, at which time the stomach and womb have started contracting towards its normal state [41]. In Chinese women, various sanctioned foods are often introduced in a particular order [44].…”

“…In some cultures where there is an extended post-partum rest period for the mother, relatives will assist or play a dominant role in infant care. For example, in Nepal, both in hospital and at home, the mother remains a peripheral figure in infant care during the first few days postpartum [41]. The infant's paternal grandmother or aunt establishes the initial bond.…”

“…In Mexico, a specialized sequence of visits from female relatives is performed to neutralize spiritual impurities [5,7]. In Nepal, senior women of the household bless the new mother by applying a tikka to her forehead [41]. In parts of rural Korea, little mounds of yellow earth are placed by the family's front door to announce the birth of the baby and the sex, a practice called Iwanyt'o p'iuda [33].…”

Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review

“…Special tonics are sometimes used during the postpartum period, consisting of herbs or foods with special medicinal properties. In Nepal, sathora , a herbal tonic, and haluua , a kind of wheat semolina with added heating substances such as ginger, cumin and turmeric, are used to promote milk production, warm the mother and expel childbirth blood [41]. Malaysian mothers also use ‘hot’ herbal medicines [42].…”

“…For example, in Nepal, warming foods such as heated milk are given immediately following delivery. To avoid indigestion and diarrhea, foods such as rice cannot be eaten until the second or third day, at which time the stomach and womb have started contracting towards its normal state [41]. In Chinese women, various sanctioned foods are often introduced in a particular order [44].…”

“…In some cultures where there is an extended post-partum rest period for the mother, relatives will assist or play a dominant role in infant care. For example, in Nepal, both in hospital and at home, the mother remains a peripheral figure in infant care during the first few days postpartum [41]. The infant's paternal grandmother or aunt establishes the initial bond.…”

“…In Mexico, a specialized sequence of visits from female relatives is performed to neutralize spiritual impurities [5,7]. In Nepal, senior women of the household bless the new mother by applying a tikka to her forehead [41]. In parts of rural Korea, little mounds of yellow earth are placed by the family's front door to announce the birth of the baby and the sex, a practice called Iwanyt'o p'iuda [33].…”

A Comparison of Practices During the Confinement Period among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Mothers in Singapore

“…A turmeric drink, known as Jamu, is particularly important in the Malay confinement diet, as it is believed that using correct supplements are important in aiding mothers to regain the energy spent during labour (11). Some women in Nepal have also been known to consume a herbal tonic containing turmeric, in an attempt to promote milk production during the postpartum period (40). Among Guatemalan women, herbal teas containing artemesia, pimipinela, oregano and white honey are taken for pain relief (41).…”

Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review

“…Special tonics are sometimes used during the postpartum period, consisting of herbs or foods with special medicinal properties. In Nepal, sathora , a herbal tonic, and haluua , a kind of wheat semolina with added heating substances such as ginger, cumin and turmeric, are used to promote milk production, warm the mother and expel childbirth blood [41]. Malaysian mothers also use ‘hot’ herbal medicines [42].…”

“…For example, in Nepal, warming foods such as heated milk are given immediately following delivery. To avoid indigestion and diarrhea, foods such as rice cannot be eaten until the second or third day, at which time the stomach and womb have started contracting towards its normal state [41]. In Chinese women, various sanctioned foods are often introduced in a particular order [44].…”

“…In some cultures where there is an extended post-partum rest period for the mother, relatives will assist or play a dominant role in infant care. For example, in Nepal, both in hospital and at home, the mother remains a peripheral figure in infant care during the first few days postpartum [41]. The infant's paternal grandmother or aunt establishes the initial bond.…”

“…In Mexico, a specialized sequence of visits from female relatives is performed to neutralize spiritual impurities [5,7]. In Nepal, senior women of the household bless the new mother by applying a tikka to her forehead [41]. In parts of rural Korea, little mounds of yellow earth are placed by the family's front door to announce the birth of the baby and the sex, a practice called Iwanyt'o p'iuda [33].…”

A Comparison of Practices During the Confinement Period among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Mothers in Singapore

“…A turmeric drink, known as Jamu, is particularly important in the Malay confinement diet, as it is believed that using correct supplements are important in aiding mothers to regain the energy spent during labour (11). Some women in Nepal have also been known to consume a herbal tonic containing turmeric, in an attempt to promote milk production during the postpartum period (40). Among Guatemalan women, herbal teas containing artemesia, pimipinela, oregano and white honey are taken for pain relief (41).…”

Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review

“…Special tonics are sometimes used during the postpartum period, consisting of herbs or foods with special medicinal properties. In Nepal, sathora , a herbal tonic, and haluua , a kind of wheat semolina with added heating substances such as ginger, cumin and turmeric, are used to promote milk production, warm the mother and expel childbirth blood [41]. Malaysian mothers also use ‘hot’ herbal medicines [42].…”

“…For example, in Nepal, warming foods such as heated milk are given immediately following delivery. To avoid indigestion and diarrhea, foods such as rice cannot be eaten until the second or third day, at which time the stomach and womb have started contracting towards its normal state [41]. In Chinese women, various sanctioned foods are often introduced in a particular order [44].…”

“…In some cultures where there is an extended post-partum rest period for the mother, relatives will assist or play a dominant role in infant care. For example, in Nepal, both in hospital and at home, the mother remains a peripheral figure in infant care during the first few days postpartum [41]. The infant's paternal grandmother or aunt establishes the initial bond.…”

“…In Mexico, a specialized sequence of visits from female relatives is performed to neutralize spiritual impurities [5,7]. In Nepal, senior women of the household bless the new mother by applying a tikka to her forehead [41]. In parts of rural Korea, little mounds of yellow earth are placed by the family's front door to announce the birth of the baby and the sex, a practice called Iwanyt'o p'iuda [33].…”

A Comparison of Practices During the Confinement Period among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Mothers in Singapore

“…A turmeric drink, known as Jamu, is particularly important in the Malay confinement diet, as it is believed that using correct supplements are important in aiding mothers to regain the energy spent during labour (11). Some women in Nepal have also been known to consume a herbal tonic containing turmeric, in an attempt to promote milk production during the postpartum period (40). Among Guatemalan women, herbal teas containing artemesia, pimipinela, oregano and white honey are taken for pain relief (41).…”