Confinement Recipes

Some simple recipe to share
Longan & Red Dates drink

1. Prepare 3 handful (about 30) of red dates and 3 handful (about 30) of dried longan, one handful of wolfberries and 2 slices of ginger
2. Add dang shen or black dates if you like.
3. Add 2 liter of water and bring to boil.
4. Simmer in low flame for 30 minutes
5. Drink it warm

Papaya & Fish bone Soup - Excellent soup to boost milk supply

1. Prepare the ingredients
• 500g of fish bones, washed
• 1 small green papaya, skin and seeds removed
• 20 red dates, washed and twisted
• 1 thumb size ginger, smashed or cut into slices
• salt to taste
• 3 liters of water
• 1 cup Huiji Waist Tonic or DOM
2. Put all ingredients except Waist Tonic or DOM into a pot and bring to boil
3. Simmer for an hour
4. Add Waist Tonic or DOM before serving

Fenugreek Tea - boost milk supply

1. Stir 2 to 3 teaspoon fenugreek seeds into a mug of boiling water
2. Infuse for 10 minutes
3. Add sugar if desired
4. Drink it warm

Warning: Your perspiration might smell of fenugreek too, but don't worry, your baby won't mind.

Confinement Top 3 Taboos

There are just too many taboos to take note, but are they for real?

Number 1 taboo: Do not touch water!
One of the biggest and most difficult to observe taboo is not to bathe at all!
Can you imagine not bathing at all for 30 days in Singapore?
You can prepared 40 packs of confinement bathing herb - Da Feng Cao (大风草).
Here's how to do it:

1. Bring 5 liters of water to boil with 2 packs of Da Feng Cao, then turn to medium flame to simmer for (at least) 30 minutes. I was told to boil about 1hr, but who has the time?
2. Do not open the lid and let it sit for another 10-20 minutes.
3. You may mix with a little more boiled water to make up the volume.
4. Bathe and shampoo as per normal.
5. DO NOT RINSE WITH CLEAN WATER - My grandmother told me that Da Feng Cao seals the pores of the skin to prevent "wind" from entering the body.
6. Use a dark color towel as it will stain.
7. Dry your hair with hairdryer.

Where to get Da Feng Cao (大风草)?


Number 2 taboo: Do not on the fan and aircon!
No way! It is totally impossible!
I cooled the room to 27-28°C with aircon. So long as you do not feel chill and shiver, that's fine.

Number 3 taboo: Do not drink water!
Will drinking water will make you bloated?
I have no idea, because I had observed this taboo strictly.
My son was on total breastfeeding, hence I drink a lot of fluid ie: 3 flasks of Longan & Red Dates tea, Papaya Fish Bone Soup and Fenugreek tea... I did secretly add water into the red dates tea, does that count?

I'll share the recipes in the next post.