After giving birth, your baby is often the center of attention. How beautiful he is! How well he sleeps! And already, it's crazy how much he looks like you. All this is true, but let's not forget that you have done an extraordinary job to get there. So, it's time for you to discover the golden month and its incredible benefits; 30 to 40 days entirely devoted to your rest, to finding yourself and to finding your bearings with your child.
SUMMARY :
- At the origins, an ancestral Chinese tradition
- Why is the golden month essential?
- Warm! The first pillar of the golden month
- Time to slow, the importance of rest
- Surround yourself with help and kindness
- And otherwise, what place for the couple in this cocoon?
At the origins, an ancestral Chinese tradition
Imagine giving birth and from that moment on receiving all the care and attention you need, emotionally and physically. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Well, that's the golden month, or Zuo Yue Zi 坐月子. Literally, sitting for a month in Chinese.
Followed for over 2,000 years in China, this tradition holds that the month following childbirth is crucial for the new mother's short- and long-term recovery . Thus, and although it has changed a lot over the centuries, many of the principles of the golden month still refer to traditional Chinese medicine today.
- Complete rest , in bed, with baby.
- Breastfeeding , if you wish.
- Heat , everywhere, all the time and strict avoidance of cold and humidity .
- Comfort food .
- Appropriate hygiene .
- Unwavering emotional support from those closest to me.
- Rare and short visits .
The golden month is therefore above all a question of sharing and transmission from woman to woman , in complete intimacy. Also, depending on the country, traditions and rituals vary, but are always based on the principles of warmth, rest and inner and outer regeneration.
Golden month around the world
- In both South Korea and China, the postnatal period, called Sanhujori , emphasizes rest, nutritious eating, and maintaining body heat to promote recovery.
- In India , mothers are given hot oil massages, specific diets and prolonged tranquility to restore their vital energy and ease the transition to motherhood.
- In Latin America, similar traditions exist. The woman who gives birth is surrounded and supported by her family, which ensures her complete recovery.
- In Africa , the postpartum period is also marked by a period of sacred rest, supported by family care, purification rituals and nourishing food, aimed at protecting the mother and newborn while strengthening their bonds.
In France, thanks to a reconnection with oneself, the golden month is increasingly popular . Gradually, various initiatives are emerging: postpartum doulas , care boxes or applications and advice platforms such as Golden Month or Oh Mama Care .
Why is the golden month essential?
The postpartum period is a time of great upheaval: matrescence , discovery of a new body, new responsibilities and new emotions. Meeting your baby and discovering family life are also on the agenda, especially for a first birth.
However, after several months of emotional yo-yoing, new mothers often feel drained, almost always tired and sometimes in pain . In traditional Chinese medicine, this is called Qi (energy) Deficiency . The mother therefore needs to be "nourished", warmed and toned, in order to avoid emotional fragility and vulnerability that could lead to postpartum depression.
Thus, Chinese wisdom attributes to the golden month a real healing power without which illnesses contracted after the birth of the baby could develop into chronic conditions.
Warm! The first pillar of the golden month
Live and eat hot
One of the most important principles of the golden month (easier to follow in winter than in summer) is to strictly avoid any contact with cold and humidity (low temperatures, very cold water, drafts, etc.).
Historically, even showers and baths were discouraged during the first 6 weeks after childbirth. Well, if we consider that comfort (especially in the bathroom) is much better today than it was 2,000 years ago, a good compromise can consist of a well-heated room before entering, a body washed with very hot water, limb by limb, and immediate drying.
Similarly, food should be nourishing, regenerating and warm (drinks too). So, even in the summer, avoid raw, cold foods and drinks straight from the fridge.
And since in Chinese dietetics, each food has a nature and functions , think of broths, fresh ginger, chicken, eggs, dates and green vegetables, brown rice, quinoa or even goji berries. In short, proteins, fibers, vitamins and minerals, and in particular, iron.
Time to slow, the importance of rest
This is the second founding principle of the golden month. After 9 months of pregnancy, childbirth and before living your first months with baby, it is time for your body and mind to rest.
Organize a cozy living space
Whether it is mental or physical fatigue, the golden month is here to help you dispel them. Also, stay in bed as often as possible and to make it easy, organize your living space according to your needs and those of your newborn child. With the help of your loved ones, transform it into a practical cocoon.
Use and abuse cushions, blankets and throws to be able to settle down anywhere, sitting or lying down. Treat yourself to the rocking chair of your dreams and a small trolley or serving cart to easily move snacks, thermos of herbal tea, bib, baby bottles, breast pump, diapers or even nursing pillow. You'll see, it's really very practical.
But above all, avoid getting up every time you have to retrieve an object from the house or apartment. So no, it's not about turning yourself into Queen Cleopatra in her palace, but rather about organizing yourself and delegating. ☺️
Enjoy treatments and massages without feeling guilty
Massage, a real moment of (re)connection to your body, is a valuable ally to take full advantage of the benefits of Zuo Yue Zi , both physically and emotionally. Acupressure and reflexology, for example, play a key role in rebalancing vital energy. And to make the experience even more soothing and restorative, hot oils are ideal: they warm the body while relieving tension and pain.
- On the stomach , they help the internal organs return to their place after childbirth, contribute to the flow of lochia (postpartum discharge) and reduce bloating.
- Massaging your back and shoulders relieves built-up tension, especially if you are breastfeeding.
- The foot being an area rich in acupuncture points , massaging it improves blood circulation, promotes overall relaxation and relieves swelling, common after childbirth.
Please note that postpartum massages should always be performed by trained practitioners, ideally in traditional Chinese medicine, to ensure appropriate procedures.
Think only of yourself and your baby
During the 40 days that this “postpartum confinement” lasts, space out and shorten visits as much as possible to enjoy them mindfully. Therefore, television and SVOD should be left aside for a while. Why? Because mental rest also helps you get back in shape.
Need some activity? Think journaling, coloring, meditation, positive visualization, or personal development readings.
Note that the idea is not to cut yourself off from the world, but to choose who to see, how often and for how long. A good reason to avoid parents of young children carrying germs, those who follow disaster stories, news stories and pessimists. 😉
Surround yourself with support and kindness
But, to rest as much as you want, you will need help, all the help you can get to ensure the daily tasks of cleaning and shopping, laundry and meals to name a few. This is especially true if you already have children. Besides, the whole golden month is experienced differently with siblings .
On this subject, the people who come to help you should turn into real good fairies. Their role? To relieve you of chores and mental load, much more than sharing a cup of tea (at least for a while). Thanks to their support, you can finally feel light, free from obligations… and enjoy moments in pajamas with your baby. 😊
Ideally, try to spend the first week completely bedridden with baby. Your partner, your mother or a friend can manage the household. Friends can wait until the second or third week postpartum to come and congratulate you (and of course contribute to your well-being by cooking meals, shopping, folding laundry, etc.).
What place for the couple in this cocoon?
Contrary to what one might imagine, the golden month can also be precious for the couple. If this period is experienced with listening , patience and complicity , it becomes an opportunity to weave new, stronger bonds , at the heart of the transformations of parenthood .
Establish little rituals! Share a herbal tea at the end of the day to reconnect, discuss the emotions experienced or enjoy the calm together. Also offer each other little attentions: a shoulder massage, a treat to taste, a gift for no reason...
Involve your partner in baby care and daily management to create a real parental team . This cocoon, far from distancing you, then establishes a unique interlude, the perfect moment to reinvent each person's place in this new family dynamic.
A time to sow seeds of love
But postpartum is not just a period of physical recovery, it is also the time when the first threads of the mother-child bond are woven through carrying, breastfeeding, bottle feeding or skin-to-skin contact. Each gesture thus turns into a seed of love sown to see a deep and lasting relationship blossom.
The golden month is also an invitation for the mother to rediscover herself, both as a nurturer and a woman, in all her complexity and strength .
Taking care of yourself during this period means giving yourself the serenity and energy you need to better care for your baby , now and after. By giving yourself this time of gentleness and attention, you cultivate a balance that is essential for your family harmony.
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