Being confined to a luxury hotel for a few weeks after giving birth probably sounds like bliss to any mother who was faced with an influx of unwanted visitors when trying to find their feet as a new parent.
In China, however, there is an age-old of tradition for new mums to spend up to 45 days behind closed doors with their newborn babies. Deeply rooted in Chinese culture, women have observed zuoyuezi ('sitting the month') for generations.
A documentary called 'China's Super Mums' has explored the ritual, which is fast becoming a status symbol, as well as big business in modern China. Shown on
Al Jazeera, the episode is part of a weekly current affairs programme that focuses on Asia, and asks if the tradition of mothers and their newborns spending weeks in confinement is medically proven.
Making sure that the ritual is properly observed, families are spending thousands so that new mums can stay in luxury hotels where they are attended to by confinement ladies, and given the best postnatal care possible. They are expected to remain indoors for at least a month after giving birth, following a strict set of rules such as eating pigs feet soup and not washing their hair.
The custom is considered crucial for those who may need navigation during a whirlwind period in their life, but we wonder if the new mums who are stuck behind closed doors for such a long time would agree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGBJDa_zzhg
