臺灣文化「譯」起讀

Background of History, Society and Culture

In Taiwan, after child-birth, women need to rest for one month. The month is called the period of “postnatal recovery”. If women get enough rest, they can be healthy. In the society of agriculture, the living condition is difficult. After childbirth, women do not eat enough food and cannot have enough breast milk to feed babies. The babies are unhealthy and are often sick, so the children cannot grow up well. Thus, if we hope that children can be healthy, women need to be healthy. This is the origin of postnatal recovery.

Taboos and Principles

In the period of postnatal recovery, women need to notice some taboos. They also need to follow some principles.

1) The women need to eat “stew of sesame oil-chicken.” This food is nutritious, so it helps women to be healthy.

2) The women should not take a shower with cold water. They also should not wash hands with cold water.

3) After they wash hair, women should dry hair immediately. Thus, they would not have a migraine.

4) The women should not eat raw food (such as: sashimi, salad) and cold food (such as: ice cream, cold drinks)

Nowadays, many women choose to stay in the “Center for Postpartum Recovery,” not at home. At the center, they can get more professional care.

Cultural Significance

Postnatal recovery is very important for the following reasons.

1) If mothers are healthy, they will have energy to take care of their children. Thus, mothers should get much rest and eat nutritious food after childbirth.

2) If postnatal mothers get good care and become healthy, they can have more babies.

3) Healthy children can survive, so they can inherit their ancestors’ surnames. In the Chinese society, the retention of the ancestor’s surname is important for the family.

Today, people still keep the tradition of postnatal recovery. However, after childbirth, women stay at the center. They don’t stay at home.