Business

Modern twist on old custom

New mothers can learn nursing skills at the country’s unique postpartum care centers. (Courtesy of Wegogo)

• Publication Date：03/06/2009
• By  Meg Chang

A woman’s health following childbirth has always been highly emphasized by ethnic Chinese families in Taiwan and the mainland, as illustrated by the traditional custom of zuo yuezi. In recent times, special postpartum nursing centers unique to the island that follow this practice have emerged to cater to the needs of new mothers in modern society.

Zuo yuezi, which literally means “sitting out a month,” refers to the ritual whereby a woman remains indoors to rest for at least four weeks after giving birth. During this period, the new mom, often under the care of her mother-in-law or sometimes her own mother, has to adhere to strict rules prescribed by the custom and follow a special diet.

“After I became pregnant, I was constantly reminded by my family members of the importance of this tradition,” said Mandy Cheng, who spent 10 days at a nursing center in Taipei after having her first daughter last December. “I was able to relax and learned a lot of nursing skills,” she added. Although Cheng acknowledged that the services did not come cheap, both she and her husband believed their money was well spent.

The custom dates back to at least the Song dynasty (960-1279), with many arguing the origins can be traced to over 2,000 years ago. In a nutshell, the purpose is to provide a new mother with ample rest and nutrition to allow her weakened body to recover from the strains of pregnancy and delivery. The length of time prescribed for recuperation is surprisingly in line with modern medicine’s findings that the effects of pregnancy usually last for four to six weeks after delivery.

During the recovery period, the woman’s activities are restricted. For example, she cannot shampoo her hair, brush her teeth, do heavy lifting, or eat foods considered “cold” in nature by Chinese medicine. While many of these practices can be backed up by medical explanations, some are simply superstitions that are being gradually discarded.

“From a functional point of view, the health of postpartum women is extremely important, because they bear the responsibility of carrying on the family lines of their husbands,” said Huang Chi-ping, an ethnology professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. She noted this consideration may help explain why, among all major cultures in the world, the Chinese seem to be the only ones who value postnatal care to such an extent that they have elevated it to the status of a ritual.

While zuo yuezi is an age-old tradition, nursing centers observing the practice only started to spring up on the island just over a decade ago. The nation’s first government certified center launched operations in 1998 when the Taipei Union Hospital for Women and Children began offering such services. For a fee ranging between NT$4,000 and NT$8,000 (US$114 and US$228) per day, such facilities provide hotel-like accommodations, specially designed meals, around-the-clock assistance in looking after the newborns, as well as care for the mothers.

Although no official statistics are available, there are approximately 100 such institutions around the island competing for a market estimated at around NT$2 billion a year. Most of these facilities are located in metropolitan areas, while some are affiliated with hospitals, and others operate independently.

Huang pointed out that the rise of these postpartum nursing centers is a natural development in the nation’s social evolution. “As nuclear families have become the primary type of household in Taiwan, it is increasingly difficult, from a logistical point of view, for such care to be provided at home by family members,” she explained. “The business simply reflects the modern reality of urban life in Taiwan.”

“Women on the island have become increasingly aware of their own health management,” said Han Yi-rei, chief executive officer of a nursing center in Taipei. He pointed out that while some of the company’s clients just want to spend money to save themselves the trouble of caring for themselves, most of them are female professionals who appreciate the ancient wisdom of zuo yuezi, as well as the importance of seeking professional assistance.

Ironically, declining birth rates may have also contributed to the growth of the business, he continued. “As more and more couples decide to have only one child, they are more willing to look for such services for this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Another important factor that prompts new mothers to stay at such centers is the various workshops they offer on nursing babies. “Besides sleep deprivation, another important reason many new moms experience postnatal depression is the frustration and stress associated with taking care of their babies,” Han said. With the assistance of registered pediatric nurses, these women can pick up proper nursing skills very quickly.

Some centers also offer counseling sessions on how to combat postpartum depression, Han continued. New mothers can also share parenting ideas and experiences with one other. “With such support and assistance, the chance of suffering from depression is greatly reduced,” he added.

Although these facilities are better equipped to provide care to both moms and babies, they are relatively expensive and can never measure up to the comfort of home. Starting from 2000, a few suppliers began to offer in-home services by sending qualified nannies to the residence of their clients on a daily basis. The services include watching over babies, performing basic housework, preparing meals and providing health care for moms. Depending on the type and length of assistance, the fee for one month is around NT$50,000, roughly one-third of the amount charged by postpartum nursing centers.

The business is in such high demand that some providers are beginning to franchise out their operations on the island. And such services are already springing up in many foreign cities with large ethnic Chinese communities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Vancouver.

Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw