WONG, Lecery Sophia C.

BSN-2I
Traditional beliefs and practices in the postpartum period in
Fujian Province, China: a qualitative study

Zuo yuezi is the month postpartum in China associated with a

variety of traditional beliefs and practices. Zuo yuezi was commonly
practiced in urban and rural families to help the mother regain her
strength and protect her future health. Zuo yuezi included: dietary
precautions, such as eating more food and avoiding cold food;
behavioural precautions, such as staying inside the home, avoiding
housework and limiting visitors; hygiene precautions, such as
restricting bathing and dental hygiene; and practices associated with
infant feeding, including supplementary feeding and giving
honeysuckle herb to the infant. 
There is widespread emphasis that "doing the month" properly will
safeguard future health. It was commonly believed that this period is
the weakest time of a woman's life. The degree to which this
adaptation of practices happens will depend very much on decision-
making and gender roles within the family. Chinese society is grounded
in respect towards elders and this is shown in their acceptance of
elders' decisions and influence. Women may find it difficult to go
against beliefs of their elders, without support of their husbands.
According to Tang et al., (2016) Traditional beliefs and practices in
pregnancy and childbirth are prevalent in Asia. Women’s fear of
unnecessary medical interventions is a barrier to institutional births.
Some mothers are fond of using traditional medicine than medically
allied medicines because think that if they took they might be
dependent to that type of medicine already. Also, family’s with low
income were more likely to consume Chinese herbal medicines in the
postpartum period they said that Traditional Chinese Medicine are
easily accessible and it can save their money.
The contraindication in using traditional Chinese medicine When
asked about childcare practices during the postpartum period,
respondents sometimes reported giving honeysuckle as an oral
medicine to the baby to relieve heat, skin rashes and eye discharge. It
was related to restoring the balance of yin and yang in the baby. Most
felt that the herb was effective, but some were concerned about its
effects on the baby's stomach and gut. Both health workers and
traditional medicine practitioners advised against this practice. They
said that honeysuckle is "cold" and will harm the yang of the baby and
damage the spleen and stomach.

There are various of beliefs that were practised and were either
beneficial or had no effect on the health of mother and baby. some
beliefs were adapted and were either beneficial or had no effect and a
few beliefs were followed and were harmful. Some practices that are
probably beneficial from a health and social perspective were eating
protein rich food and larger amounts of food; family care and support;
rest and focusing on recovery and the baby; and vulval hygiene. There
also was an overwhelming stoicism amongst women, that as "doing the
month" only lasted for 30 days, any difficulties and inconveniences
could be tolerated. Although, they all experienced some degree of
frustration they all felt that the ritual was beneficial for long-term
health.

My suggestion is that Instead of reducing the choices available to

women during the birth experience, providers should understand,
respect, and integrate cultural interpretations of childbirth and the
needs of women and their families. The health care providers must
educate mothers to have more confidence in their self and give them
insights of what will be the outcome and cons of their actions.

Traditional beliefs and practices in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum: A

review of the evidence from Asian countries

Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS (Associate Professor) , Correspondence

information about the author PhD, MHS Mellissa Withers Email the author
PhD, MHS Mellissa Withers
, 
Nina Kharazmi, MPH (MPH Student) Email the author MPH Nina Kharazmi
, 
Esther Lim, MPH (Clinical Research Coordinator) Email the author MPH
Esther Lim
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 2001 North Soto
Street SSB 318G, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Asian women suffer the largest proportion of the world’s maternal deaths. To
reduce this, policymakers and healthcare providers must encourage women with traditionally low rates
of maternal health care utilization to access services.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive review of the most common
traditional practices in Asia relating to pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

DESIGN: We conducted a literature search of articles: a) focusing on Asia; b) relating to pregnancy,

childbirth or postpartum, c) relating to traditional beliefs and/or cultural practices; and 4) published in
English in the year 2000 or more recently.

FINDINGS: A total of 74 articles are included in this review; 20 articles related to pregnancy, 44 to
childbirth, and 45 to postpartum. More than one-half (38) of the articles focused on South Asia and 13
related to China. In the pregnancy category, the majority of the studies focused on dietary
recommendations and behavioral taboos. For the childbirth category, many articles examined beliefs
and practices that helped to explain women’s aversion to institutional births, such as preference for
traditional birth positions, and fear of medical interventions. In the postpartum period, confinement was
common because postpartum women were perceived to be weak, fragile and vulnerable to illness.
Other prevalent beliefs and practices across Asian countries included massage, the state of pollution
after childbirth, the use of traditional healers and traditional medicine and herbs, beliefs relating to
hot/cold imbalance, behavioral taboos, magic, and superstition.

KEY CONCLUSIONS: Many Asian women continue to practice a wide range of traditional beliefs and
practices during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. More information is needed on the
benefits of formal maternal healthcare services; such educational programs should be geared towards
not only women but also husbands, parents, and in-laws. By recognizing and appreciating common
local beliefs, providers can be better positioned to provide culturally competent care. Instead of
reducing the choices available to women during the birth experience, providers should understand,
respect, and integrate cultural interpretations of childbirth and the needs of women and their families.

Consumption of Chinese herbal medicines during pregnancy and postpartum: A

prospective cohort study in China

Li Tang, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow)a,b, ,Correspondence information about the

author PhD Li Tang Email the author PhD Li Tang

Andy H. Lee, PhD (Professor)b, Email the author PhD Andy H. Lee,Colin W. Binns,
PhD (Professor)b, Email the author PhD Colin W. BinnsYer Van Hui, PhD
(Professor)a,c, Email the author PhD Yer Van Hui Kelvin K.W. Yau, PhD
(Professor)a

Abstract
Objective
to investigate usage patterns and factors associated with maternal consumption of
Chinese herbal medicines in China.
Design
prospective cohort study. Information on the use of Chinese herbal medicines was
collected from mothers by personal interview at hospital discharge and followed up
by telephone at one, three and six months postpartum.

Setting
seven hospitals in Jiangyou, Sichuan Province of China.

Participants
695 mothers who gave birth to a singleton infant.

Measurements
prevalence, type, frequency and duration of herbal medicine usage. Logistic mixed
regression analyses were performed to determine factors affecting the use.

Findings
a total of 43.5% and 45.0% of mothers consumed Chinese herbal medicines during
pregnancy and postpartum, respectively. Angelica sinsensis was the most popular
herbal medicine among the participants (pregnancy 28.8%, postpartum 26.8%).
Although herbal medicines were taken more regularly by postpartum users, the
median usage duration varied from two to three months during pregnancy but 1–1.6
months postpartum. The majority of users (pregnancy 42.9%, postpartum 55.1%)
were advised by their mother or mother-in-law to take Chinese herbal medicines.
Antenatal alcohol drinking (adjusted odds ratio 2.75, 95% confidence interval 1.01–
7.53) was associated with a marginally higher prevalence of herbal consumption
during pregnancy, whereas mothers with a lower family income (adjusted odds ratio
1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.12–2.04) were more likely to consume Chinese
herbal medicines in the postpartum period.

Key conclusions and implications for practice

consumption of Chinese herbal medicines appears to be prevalent among Chinese
mothers, especially those drinking alcohol whilst pregnant and women from a lower
income household. Maternity health professionals need to be aware of the lack of
evidence to support the use of Chinese herbal medicines during pregnancy and
postpartum, and to provide their clients with scientifically based advice regarding
herbal medicine use.