What Other Cultures Can Teach the US About Postpartum Rituals

With all the focus on the pregnancy, birth, and newborns, postpartum rest and recovery often get lost in the mix. This leaves many new parents feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or even lost. Despite the lack of attention, the postpartum period is an important time of healing and change—and most new parents could use a lot more help and support than they're getting.

But there are other ways of doing things that could improve this situation for new parents—and their babies. Following the lead of postpartum rituals and cultural traditions across the globe, such as la cuarentena, can help fill this gap. In these traditions, new parents are sequestered and cared for in the postpartum period by loved ones to facilitate recovery, adjust to parenthood, and bond with the baby.

Read on to learn more about the critical postpartum period, how cultural rituals like la cuarentena can honor recovery and rest, and how the US stacks up to other countries in celebrating and supporting new parents.

What Do Postpartum Rituals Like La Cuarentena Look Like?

Imagine having a baby and immediately surrendering to a massage, soaking in an herbal bath, and spending a month in a state of rest.

For many new parents, this sounds like a dream, but for Evelynn Escobar, it was her reality after the birth of her child. Escobar, who identifies as Black and Indigenous Latinx, observed the Latin American cultural practice of la cuarentena or "quarantine," a sequestered 40-day postpartum period in which new parents focus on healing and bonding with their baby.

"I did not lift a finger for the entire 40 days," says 30-year-old Escobar.

That meant not even descending the stairs of her three-story Los Angeles townhouse where she gave birth to baby Isla. During her cuarentena, Escobar relied on her husband, delivery services, and extended community for care while she recovered. The cultural practice of rest and recovery allowed her to gently transition from pregnancy to parenthood.

"It gave me the preparation that I needed to sort of come out and feel confident about my new role as a mother because once I did come out, I was like, 'OK, I'm ready,'" explains Escobar.

The Importance of the Postpartum Period

The weeks after birth are often called the fourth trimester. This is a critical time of healing and adjustment for new parents that sets the stage for long-term health and well-being, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Unfortunately, in the United States, caring for postpartum people simply isn't prioritized. Plus, due to financial constraints, many new parents need to go back to work (in the home or to a paying job) soon after their baby is born.

Instead of regular medical care during the postpartum period, new parents usually just get a singular visit to an OB-GYN or midwife at about six weeks postpartum for routine pregnancies and deliveries. Additionally, around 40% of new parents in the United States don't receive any prenatal care at all. Barriers to care include lack of health insurance, inability to make time for appointments, or not having access to a nearby or trusted medical provider.

However, in 2018, the ACOG updated its recommendations for postpartum care, redefining it as an ongoing process rather than a single visit. They recommend that people have contact with their health care provider beginning three weeks postpartum and continuing through 12 weeks. These visits or calls are intended to assess the following:

• Birth control
• Infant care and feeding
• Mood and emotional health
• Physical recovery
• Ongoing health concerns
  
• Sleep concerns and fatigue

Aside from health recommendations, the US's lack of paid parental leave policies combined with the fact that many people live away from extended family make postpartum support minimal to virtually nonexistent. In contrast, many cultures around the world observe postpartum rituals that allow new parents to be "mothered" for longer periods.

The general lack of a comprehensive structural system and community support for postpartum care in the US encourages some new parents like Escobar to lean into other cultural practices that support the transition from pregnancy to parenthood.

It may not always be a walk in the park (spoiler: some traditions mean no air conditioning or short-sleeve shirts even during the hottest month), but for some people, these rituals offer necessary rest, healing, and community support. Even better, you can pick and choose the elements that offer you the comfort and help you need.

Crucially, research shows that enhanced social (and financial) support during the postpartum period results in better physical and mental health outcomes for babies and their parents. So, do what you can to enhance your opportunities for rest and healing during this vital time of recovery and adjustment to parenthood.

What Postpartum Cultural Rituals Look Like Around the World

In many parts of the world, such as Latin America and Asia, postpartum rituals and traditions support new parents via rest, family and community support, and child care. "Some cultures really fundamentally believe in this long-term detriment to one's health if they don't get the support during the transition of having a baby," says Cindy Lee-Dennis, PhD, a professor at the University of Toronto's Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and the Faculty of Medicine.

Essentially, these traditions provide several weeks of support, nourishment, and care for the new parent to promote healing, resting, and adjusting to parenthood. Read on for some beautiful examples of rituals that honor and support new parents and what can we learn from them.

The Chinese tradition of "sitting the month"

In China, it's called zuo yue zi, which translates to "sitting a moon cycle," and is often called "sitting the month" or "doing the month" in English. The practice dates back over 2,000 years and is based on the belief that a new gestational parent's path to recovery starts with rest and dietary and lifestyle restrictions.

The sitting month is now a multi-billion dollar market with all-inclusive postpartum hotels, according to Heng Ou, author The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother.

Ou, who is Chinese American, practiced tenets of the sitting month after the birth of her first child in 2003. These traditions require the postpartum parent to stay indoors, bundle up with warm clothes, and avoid cold food and drinks to restore the heat that escaped the body with the baby.

Ou's aunt became her de facto confinement ambassador by moving in and filling her freezer with broths and food. "It's a really beautiful time to hold the mom and nurture her and keep her warm so she could heal and replenish herself from the inside out," says Ou.

The mom of three only practiced sitting the month for her first child. Her subsequent postpartum experiences differed starkly. She returned to work—with a newborn strapped in a carrier—just days after birth. As a result, Ou said she felt disconnected from her body.

Inspired by her postpartum experiences, Ou founded MotherBees in 2010, a company that delivers bone broth and porridges to new parents. She believes that taking care of new parents is really about taking care of society as a whole.

Latin American cuarentena

The Latin American practice of la cuarentena is a 40-day postpartum ritual that centers on postpartum recovery and bonding with a new baby at home. This practice is rooted in Christian traditions of isolating and caring for new parents that used to be common throughout Europe and the Americas. Some guidelines include avoiding certain activities, including housework, exercise, sex, and even rapid movements.

In addition, the recovering parent lies under warm blankets, binds their waist to help organs return to their pre-birth position, and takes herbal baths.

Korean Saam-chil-il

In Korean culture, the 21-day postpartum care period is called Saam-chil-il.

Before the birth of her first son, Kelly Lee hired a professional Korean care specialist to perform blood-circulating massages, take care of household chores, and cook her seaweed soup. For Lee, 29, of Bergen County, New Jersey, the extra support helped her recover from a difficult pregnancy.

"I don't think my body would have recovered as quickly," says Lee, who is Korean American.

Many say the postpartum rituals open a space for new parents to prioritize self-care. Without them, new parents typically put the baby's needs first, says Ou. So, what's left over for them? Not much. Instead, these cultural practices center on the birthing parent, an approach that ultimately helps the baby, too. After all, healthy babies start with healthy parents.

What New Parents Can Take Away From These Traditions

Realistically, these cultural rituals aren't accessible—or relevant—to all. But they can serve as inspiration for ways to cultivate more support for new parents. Options include tapping into existing resources by accessing community programs, paying for support, and/or getting assistance from extended family, friends, and other loved ones. Remember, many people may be enthusiastic about offering support if asked. And when people ask if they can help, let them!

Professional postpartum support resources

Many communities have postpartum professionals, such as doulas, nurses, and lactation professionals, who can help new parents after they have a baby. Postpartum doulas are trained professionals who help people adjust to new parenthood. Sometimes insurance will cover the cost of these services or community resources may offer them free of charge. Other times, it's necessary to pay out of pocket.

According to the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), postpartum doulas offer:

• Assistance with newborn feeding, including breastfeeding support
• Care that honors a family's culture and values
  
• Child care while a parent naps or showers
• Education on newborn care
• Household organization
• Information and ideas about parenting
  
• Support for physical and emotional healing
  

Postpartum doulas are different from nannies or housekeepers. Instead, their role is centered around supporting and mentoring new parents as they adjust to their new role.

Postpartum Support International is an organization that connects people to information and resources for people in the postpartum period. It offers a helpline, a provider directory, a connection to local support, online support groups, and peer mentors.

Relationship-based support

While traditional rituals can be an essential cultural rite of passage, Dr. Lee-Dennis points out that even without them, most new parents have an embedded support network in their partners, extended family, and other loved ones. Of course, a partner can look different for every family, but the goal is to have another person or group of people who can provide support.

"Everyone always says it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to raise mothers," says Escobar.

During Escobar's cuarentena, her husband Franco Andrade, 31, was able to take time off work to be there for his family. "Once the baby was born, for sure Evelynn did nothing, and we did our absolute best for her to do nothing, and I knew that meant I had to do everything," says Andrade, who calls himself blessed for the ability to take five months off work.

Sadly, that's often a luxury in the US, a country that ranks last in UNICEF's report on family-friendly policies, including paid family leave. However, if possible, aim to tap into your support network to organize as much help (from meal prep and errands to cleaning and baby care) as you can during your postpartum period.

The Bottom Line

It's not always easy to practice these postpartum rituals, says Ou. There are groceries to buy, toddlers to hug, and jobs to keep. The extra support needed may not be financially accessible for many families, but the philosophy of cultural postpartum rituals is free—it's about slowing down and accepting help.

"I think that it's got to happen in increments. It could be like a couple of minutes a day. Any moment that you could hang on to," says Ou. New parents can make mindful transitions in those small moments and connect with their mind and body. Those mindful minutes can add to days and months and lead to healthier new parents.

As Ou puts it, "Don't we want to have a better society of moms and babies because isn't that all going to benefit us in the future?"