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Confinement

Confinement can be a particularly stressful period for new mothers who have to take care of the baby while your body is recovering from the toils of the delivery process. From the TCM perspective, this is a crucial period to nourish your body and restore its energy to optimal levels.

How does Chinese herbal medicine help mothers during confinement?

Chinese herbal medicine catered for women during their confinement period will help new mothers in their recovery process. Thomson Chinese Medicine has specially formulated the 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care package, which comprises customised herb selections to meet each individual’s healing needs.

The herbs in the personalised 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care come in convenient sachets and capsules, and target the three stages of postpartum recovery:

UTERUS RECOVERY (Up to 6 days after delivery)
Focuses on uterus recovery and improving the mother’s overall wellness.

DIGESTIVE WELLNESS AND BREASTFEEDING (7 – 21 days after delivery)
Warms the body to prevent the invasion of “wind-dampness” and improves digestive functions for the absorption of nutrients that form the foundation for a steady supply of breastmilk.

VITALITY BOOSTER (22 – 28 days after delivery)
Keeps the mother’s constitution balanced, strengthens the joints and muscles, nourishes the blood, and reinstates hormonal balance for overall vitality and to combat premature ageing.

How is the 28-Day Herbal Care package different from pre-packed herbs?

While pre-packed herbs or herbal soups also aim to help mothers during the confinement period, they are usually considered generic dietary nourishment. Thomson Chinese Medicine’s 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care package is prescribed by our TCM physician and tailored to each mother’s needs, addressing existing health concerns as well as boosting overall wellness.

How do I consume the confinement herbs?

Instead of spending time on brewing, we want you to have more time for yourself and your new bundle of joy. Our confinement herbs are customised for each person and packed into convenient herbal powder sachets and capsules for hassle-free consumption. It can be taken on its own or together with Thomson Confinement Food to enhance mother’s postpartum recovery.

Thomson Chinese Medicine’s 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care is an all-in-one TCM supplement package that includes:

  • 28 sachets of herbal powder
  • Cordyceps capsules
  • Mammgation-Duce capsules

Directions for when and how to take these will be provided when you collect the herbs. You may purchase the 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care package in advance at ThomsonBaby.com.

When should I see the physician to get my confinement herbs?

Patients are to consult the TCM physician only after delivery. This is to ensure that the confinement herbs prescribed are tailored for both mother and baby.

  • For mothers delivering at Thomson Medical: Please call 6352 5800 upon admission to the hospital to arrange for our TCM physician to see you at your ward.
  • For mothers delivering at other hospitals: Please try to visit our clinic on the day you are discharged, or within a week from delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care package suitable for nursing mums?

Confinement herbs in the 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care package are mostly plant-based (sometimes with animal extracts) and will not cause adverse effects to either mother or baby, under proper prescription by a qualified TCM physician.

In fact, taking Chinese herbal medicine that has been specifically tailored for you may boost breastmilk production by regulating the flow of Qi and Blood.

Can I take other supplements/herbal soups on top of the prescribed 28-Day Confinement Herbal Care?

If you are taking any other supplements or western drugs, there should be a two-hour interval between taking the confinement herbs and any other supplements or medication.

It is perfectly fine to consume most herbal soups on top of the confinement herbs. The general guideline is to go easy on the dosage of the herbs used in herbal soups. If in doubt, you may wish to consult your TCM physician.

What herbs are good for confinement?

A confinement herbs list generally consists of herbs that are recommended for postpartum mothers to speed up recovery and boost breastmilk supply too. These include the following:

Dang Gui – Nourish and replenish lost blood

Chuan Xiong: Improve blood circulation to eliminate lochia and clear stagnant blood

Dang Shen – Replenish Qi, body fluids and restores body constitution

Huang Qi- Support immune system, tonify Qi and Blood and strengthen the Spleen and Stomach for a stronger digestive system.

What can I drink during confinement?

Contrary to belief, drinking plain water is allowed as mothers have to stay hydrated, particularly when they are breastfeeding. From a TCM perspective, they should also drink red date and longan tea. It has a warming effect and is a good source of iron to replenish the blood lost during childbirth.

What food is good for confinement?

Aside from the confinement herbs, some of the foods that should be included in a confinement diet include ginger and sesame oil for cooking as well as tonic wine which is good for boosting blood circulation, improving breast milk supply, and rejuvenating strength. Proteins like chicken, pork, eggs, beans and legumes are also essential for recovery.

How do you make a confinement herbal bath?

Confinement herbal baths can improve blood circulation, remove wind from the body, and relieve swelling and pain from childbirth, among others. The most typical herbs used by new mothers to bathe with include mugwort, ginger, lemongrass, da feng ai (sembong), and Chinese chaste tree.

Can I shower during confinement?

Contrary to popular belief, you may shower, bathe, or wash your hair during confinement. Just make sure to bathe in warm water and dry your body and hair immediately afterwards. You may turn on the air conditioner and fan at a comfortable temperature (26 -27C), however do not let it blow directly at you.

What should I prepare for confinement?

Confinement is the period when the mother recuperates from the toil of pregnancy, labour, and childbirth. The quality of confinement care is crucial to their recovery hence, confinement herbs, together with well-balanced confinement food, have to be prepared to help you recuperate and regain vitality.

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