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UPCOMING ISSUES |
POSTPARTUM'Doing the month': ancient tradition meets modern motherhood
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------ ‘Doing the month’: Ancient tradition meets modern motherhood When Urbanbaby & Toddler publisher Emma Lee asked me to write about birth traditions, I expected the end result would be an amusing article about long-forgotten rituals of motherhood. Certainly none of these rituals would be relevant today. Then I received another email from Emma. “I just spent a month in confinement,” she said. “It would be great if you could talk to other mothers about it.” Confinement? What is that? It sounded primitive, if not downright barbaric. It turns out that the ancient practice of confinement, or ‘doing the month’, is alive and well on the Lower Mainland – and despite its primitive-sounding name, is not nearly as barbaric as one might think. Where did confinement come from, and how do mothers safely honour a tradition whose basis was formed long before modern medicine? Zuo Yuezi Zuo Yuezi – which loosely translates into doing the month – also requires mothers to avoid all forms of stress, including crying, shouting and talking for an entire cycle of the moon. While ‘doing the month,’ mothers can’t eat ‘cold’ foods such as cool drinks, ice cream, fruits or vegetables. Instead, they must load up on ‘hot’ foods like boiled eggs and chicken and fish soup. Along with the tradition is a famous Chinese postpartum ‘decoction’ known as Shenghua Tang – an herbal cleansing and purifying remedy. Origins in Chinese Medicine If you analyze Zuo Yuezi in an early medical context, many of the practices made sense. The avoidance of bathing and teeth-brushing was a way to prevent water-borne illness; staying indoors helped women and babies avoid exposure to communicable diseases, and covering the head protected new mothers from catching a ‘chill.’ Food-wise, the proteins and iron found in eggs, meat and fish provided mothers with strength and muscle repair. Rest and heavy consumption of hot soup helped prevent dehydration, kept moms warm and was believed to promote the production of breast milk. Most importantly, the legendary herbal decoction of Shenghua Tang was thought to purify the female body and help slow vaginal bleeding. The Power of Superstition For example, some of the fear of leaving home in the first month after birth had to do with evil spirits seeking to steal babies. More common was the belief that spirits and pregnant women were out to steal breast milk. Out of these superstitions came the avoidance of expectant mothers and strangers during Zuo Yuezi. Baby snatchers were the reason that the Chinese did not give first-born children their official names until ‘doing the month’ was over. Instead, a newborn was given a little name or nickname to trick the evil spirits. Many parents continued to use the nickname throughout their children’s lives. Zuo Yuezi Today That’s why maternity hospitals such as BC Women’s Hospital in Vancouver try to accommodate different cultural beliefs. Pam O’Sullivan is the director of BC Women’s Birthing Program. “We are accustomed to serving a population that is of approximately 30 percent non-Caucasian origin. We try to listen to everyone’s requests and accommodate them as best we can, as long as there are no safety issues.” O’Sullivan offers a few examples. “We have a policy of keeping moms and babies together as much as possible, regardless of culture. As well, we will push beds to the far end of the rooms to accommodate extended families, and supply boiled water to Asian mothers who like to drink it to avoid stress. Although hygiene is very important, we will allow sponge bathing for women who traditionally avoid bathing and showering around births.” Is It All Worth It? The answer is that while respect for the practice remains high, today’s mothers tend to reject certain rules of confinement – namely the month-long ritual of not bathing or leaving their homes. Sisters Aimee Jang and Nina Soo, both from the Lower Mainland, share amusing stories about ‘doing the month.’ “My mother still believes very strongly in the tradition,” says Aimee. “But these days it’s not practical to stay inside for an entire month, so I cheated a little.” Nina agrees. “We sometimes roll our eyes, but at the same time we respect how much it means to our parents.” Aimee tells a funny tale about sneaking out for dim sum. “My mother came with me to the restaurant, and every time someone walked up to us she would announce how disappointed she was that I left the house. But she couldn’t resist a good dim sum, so there she was, eating right next to me.” Both sisters recount their mother’s affectionate scolding: “Some day you’re going to get sick, and you’ll wish you listened.” But despite their reluctance to follow the more unsavoury aspects of confinement, Aimee and Nina speak fondly of their experiences. “Doing the month is more than just tradition. When you think about it, it’s what bonds us to our mothers and grandmothers.” How about a room at the ‘Confinement Hotel’? Moms get their own private bathrooms and the in-laws sleep on hide-a-beds. Stays at these hotels cost between $360 to $400 US per week and are doing a booming business. Need a break from your mother-in-law? Check out the New Mother Service Center in Beijing at www.newmother.com.cn or www.zuoyuezi.com.cn.------- Beyond the baby blues: postpartum psychosis It was a cold December morning in Toronto, Canada. A frantic 911 call from Brian Langer had brought police to the city’s west-end. Langer had struggled to tell the operator that his wife had stabbed him in the stomach. The emergency crews who arrived on the scene said it was the most horrific thing they had ever witnessed. Langer and two of his children had been viciously stabbed and were fighting for their lives; their mother was already dead. Even the family dog had been injured. Only the couple’s seven-month old baby had escaped the attack. Langer and the couple’s eldest daughter died shortly after they arrived. Autopsies later confirmed police’s suspicions – Andrea Labbe, Brian Langer’s wife and mother of his children, had stabbed her family, and then turned the knife on herself. The case was closed, but Canadians still wanted answers. What would make a mother try to kill her family – especially when, by all accounts, her life was idyllic? Police wouldn’t confirm Labbe’s motive, but they alluded to the fact that some women fall into such deep depressions after childbirth that they consider taking their own lives. They are reluctant to leave their family behind in what they believe is a cold, harsh world. The local media quoted expert after expert speculating that this was not just baby blues; this was full-fledged postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis (also known as puerperal psychosis or PPP) is an uncommon but very serious mental disorder that affects one to two women per 1,000 births. Even though it is rare, it is a frightening condition that needs immediate medical attention. Dangerous Delusions Martha Silano, a 44-year old College professor from Seattle, remembers those hallucinations vividly. She had no idea she was at risk for PPP and had never even heard of it. Two weeks after giving birth to her son she began to “check out mentally,” she says. Martha says that she started to see apparitions in everyday objects: “I saw a saint in the bathroom sink – the faucets were her arms. A red fire alarm turned into a devil’s face,” she recalls clearly. “I believed that I was shot thousands of times and could feel the pain of dying over and over again. The delusions just went on and on.” Doctors aren’t sure what causes PPP, although rapidly changing hormones are highly suspect. Emotional factors may contribute as well – low self-esteem, a change in post pregnancy body image, new-mom fatigue, as well as financial or relationship stress. Dr. Margaret Howard, director of the postpartum day program at the Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, says that it’s hard to pinpoint the reason that PPP occurs: “What we do know is that the majority of women who develop PPP have a current or past history of bipolar disorder, a history of a prior psychotic episode, a family history of bipolar disorder or a history of a prior postpartum psychosis.” Recognize the Need for Help Doctors face many hurdles trying to treat PPP. Like Martha, most women with PPP don’t know they are sick. “That’s the thing, when you’re crazy, you don’t know you’re crazy – not when it hits full on,” Martha says. “You fully believe that what’s going on is real. That’s why I needed my husband to get me out of the house and into the hospital.” In studies, five percent of PPP sufferers are at risk of committing suicide. An equal number of cases will try to harm their children. It is imperative that women with PPP are hospitalized for their safety and to safeguard their infants. Most women with PPP are prescribed anti-psychotic medication. In some cases, Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) is also used. During ECT, a small amount of electrical current is delivered to the brain producing a controlled seizure. Doctors believe that chemicals in the brain are altered during and after this seizure, reducing symptoms. Many women also respond favourably to psychotherapy or support groups. The length of treatment varies from person to person. Martha Silano is a testament to the fact that postpartum psychosis can be treated successfully. “I was released when my son was two months old and never returned to a mental hospital again,” Martha announces proudly. Proceed with Caution When Martha got pregnant unexpectedly a second time, she understood the risks of PPP and took it very seriously. Martha continues to see a psychiatrist since giving birth to her daughter a year ago, but she warns, “This is not something you can treat with herbs or vitamins. Active psychosis is dangerous to the mother and obviously to her kids as well. She needs immediate treatment.” With proper care and treatment, women with PPP can recover, and lead normal lives. If you or someone you know has the following symptoms, get them help immediately: Where to find help: |
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