Breastmilk Booster: Fenugreek Capsules

http://wendyinkk.blogspot.com/2011/06/homemade-fenugreek-capsules-for-more.html

Note: Do not consume fenugreek during pregnancy as it can cause early contractions.

Nourishing Confinement Tea

Dates Tea
Ingredients:
50g black dates
50g nan dates/ nan zhao
150g red dates
50g dried longan
1500ml water

Method:
1) Rinse dates and flatten. Remove the core.

2) Cook dates with water until boiling. Simmer over low heat for approximately 2 hours.

3) Remove from heat, strain well and serve hot.

4) Place the remainder into a thermos flask and drink throughout the day


Fried Ginger Rice Tea
Ingredients:
300g white grain rice
150g fresh ginger (shredded finely)

Method:
1) Stir-fry the rice and shredded ginger in a pre-heated dry wok until dry and golden brown.

2) Remove and keep in a bottle

3) Soak 1tbsp in a cup of boiling water. Cover for 30 minutes. Serve hot. Can be taken everyday.

Food to Avoid on Confinement

‘Cooling food' for example: 
banana, cabbage, cucumber, coconut and Chinese cabbage
Contribute to mother's poor blood circulation and stomach ache in the baby if you are breastfeeding. Salt as a condiment and salty foods in general are to be rejected, too, in the belief that use reduces breast milk production

‘Acidic food' for example: 
pineapple, mango, lemon, lime
Contribute to excessive lochia in the mother and diarrhea in the baby.

Too much ‘Heaty food' for example: 
chilli, pepper, spices, tonics, spirits and medicines.
Contribute to diarrhea in the baby and maternal headaches

‘Windy food' for example: 
jackfruit, tapioca, pumpkin, onions.
Contribute to baby being colicky and may cause indigestion for mother and baby.

Poisonous food such as:
prawns, shellfish, crab, eel, ginger
Delay healing of the mother's wound and may cause allergies and eczema in the baby. These foods may cause stomach upsets and vomiting

Some food does cause the baby to become 'windy' or have loose stools. If you find that your baby is suddenly quite unsettled, try and think of what you ate during the last 12 hours. Avoid that food for a few days and then try again. If the same happens again, then you should avoid that particular food for a while and re-introduce it into your diet by taking a very small amount and see how baby reacts then slowly increase the amount so that baby gets used to the food.

Confinement Recipe 2

Fish Dishes:

Stir Fried Sweet Peas w/ Fish Maw
鱼瓢炒甜豆
*Dried fish maw contains essential amino acids. It helps mend worn-out cells and prevents the degeneration of muscle mass.

Steam Fish w/ Sliced Ginger & Qi Zi
姜丝，杞子蒸鱼
*Qi Zhi helps reinforce the liver and the kidneys, replenish vital essence & improve vision.

Chicken Dishes:

Double Boiled Polygonum w/ Chicken Soup
何首乌炖鸡汤
*Polygonum replenishes the liver & the kidneys with vital essence & blood; blacken hair & strengthen the tendons & bones.

Double Boiled Angelica Chicken Tonic Soup
当归，北芪炖鸡汤
*Angelica enriches blood, promote blood circulation, regulate menstruation, relieve pain & induce laxation.

Dang Shen, Qi Zhi w/ Black Chicken Soup
党参，杞子乌鸡汤
*Dang Shen rids of clot blood, pain, invigorate blood, breakup blood stasis, for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, palpable tumors, angina, heat bi, restlessness and insomnia, irritability, swollen spleen, pain in digestive system.


Black Chicken w/ Huai Shan & White Fungus Soup
淮山，木耳黑鸡
*Huai Shan - anti aging & improves digestive system


Sesame Chicken w/ Sliced Ginger
姜丝麻油鸡
*this dish helps to promote blood circulation, provide nourishment and stimulate energy.


Pork Dishes:
Pig’s Trotters & Peanuts Soup
花生猪脚汤
*this dish purifies the blood, alleviate wind & dampness, improve blood circulation.

Pork Ribs w/ Papaya & Peanuts Soup
木瓜，排骨花生汤
*the papaya & peanuts enrich the milk glands.

Pork Ribs w/ Lotus Root Soup
莲藕排骨汤
*cooked lotus root turn into warm nature and is good for strengthening the spleen, stimulating the appetite and benefiting the blood.

Pork Knuckles in Ginger & Vinegar
猪脚姜醋
*this dish helps to purify the blood, alleviate wind and dampness, improves blood circulation.

Double Boiled Ginseng w/ Pork Ribs Soup
人参炖排骨汤
*Ginseng reinforces qi, rescue collapse, restore the normal pulse, tonify the spleen and lungs, promote the production of body fluids and tranquillise the mind.

Double Boiled Ba Zhen Pork Rib Tonic Soup
八珍滋补炖排骨汤
*Ba Zhen invigorates the spleen, replenishes your vital energy, promotes blood flow & regulates stomach functions.


Black Beans & Red Dates Pork Ribs Soup
黑豆，红枣排骨汤
*Black beans promote blood circulation and has detoxification effect.

 Black Pepper w/ Pig’s Stomach Soup
黑椒猪肚汤
*Black pepper acts as an antioxidant, a pain relief agent.

Vegetable Dishes:

Stir Fried Kai Lan w/ Sliced Chicken
芥兰炒鸡丝

Stir Fried Broccoli w/ Sliced Fish
西兰花炒鱼片
*Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, folic acid, and fiber.

Stir Fried Broccoli & Cauliflower w/ Carrot
西兰花，椰菜花炒红罗卜
*Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, folic acid, and fiber.

Steam Enoki Mushroom w/ Oyster Sauce
耗油蒸金针菇
*Enoki Mushroom provides an excellent source of iron and are good sources of fiber, protein, & vitamin C.

Stir Fried Spinach w/ Anchovies
银鱼炒波菜
*Spinach is low in calories, yet extremely high in vitamins & minerals.

Stir Fried Spinach w/ Qi Zhi
构杞炒波菜
*Spinach is low in calories, yet extremely high in vitamins & minerals.

Stir Fried Celery w/ Minced Meat
西芹炒肉碎
*Celery provides an excellent source of vitamin C & fiber
*Kai Lan is rich in iron, calcium, manganese & potassium.

Stir Fried Asparagus w/ Carrot
芦笋炒红罗卜
*Asparagus is a good source of dietary fiber, niacin, phosphorus, protein, & iron.

Stir Fried Lean Meat w/ Capsicums
灯笼椒炒瘦肉
*Bell peppers are a good source of phytochemicals, providing exceptional antioxidant activity.

Stir Fried Snow Peas & Mushroom
甜豆炒香菇
*Snow peas are rich in proteins.

Stir Fried Broccoli, Carrot & Black Fungus
西兰花，红罗卜炒黑木耳

Credits: 
http://confinement-meals.com/media/Confinement%20Package.pdf

Top 4 Confinement Myths

Top 4 Confinement Myths

Many mothers or mothers-to-be are often puzzled about the traditional confinement rules and taboos. Here we discuss the Top 4 Confinement Myths and provide further scientific reasonings and suggestions.

Confinement Myth #1 - To Bathe or Not to Bathe
New mothers are advised not to bathe or wash their hair for a month after childbirth to prevent catching a chill and suffer from rheumatism in later part of their lives. However, there is no scientific reasoning to this and it could also be due to the living conditions in ancient China whereby women had to fetch water from rivers to bathe.
Furthermore, in tropical country like Singapore, in order to observe good personal hygiene, bathing is necessary to prevent build up of germs and sweat or any infection. It is recommended to take warm baths and dry yourself quickly or take hot sponge bath to remain fresh and clean.
You wouldn’t want to be sweaty and smelly when breastfeeding your baby. New mothers should also be encouraged to wash their hair only when they are more stable on their feet after giving birth.

Confinement Myth#2 - Keeping Warm with Food and Alcohol
It is believed that alcohol promote blood circulation and warm the body. However, alcohol can be transmitted to the baby through breastfeeding and it is proven that drinking excessively during nursing may result in delay in development in the child.

Instead, have a healthy and balance diet to provide your body with the necessary nutrients. Recommend oatmeal, brown rice, wholemeal bread, plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, and calcium-rich food. Gingers are also commonly used to get rid of ‘wind’ in the body as the stomach and bowels, which are compressed during pregnancy, are now expanded causing organs to swell up with air and fluid.
Confinement Myth #3 - Saying “NO” to Air Condition
Many believe that new mothers should not come in contact with direct wind and this is true as after childbirth, women tend to be weaker. To keep health and body in tip-top condition, new mothers should avoid receiving direct wind from fan or air-conditioner.
However, the room should be sufficiently ventilated with adequate lighting so as to feel comfortable. In fact, air conditionings are allowed but temperature should not be too low. It is recommended to keep temperature between 25oC – 27oC.

Confinement Myth #4 - Eight Glasses of Water Per Day, No?
It is believed that new mothers should not drink water during confinement as it may cause water retention in the body.
However, sufficient fluid is essential to replace the lost fluid produced during breastfeeding. It is usually recommended for new mothers to consume longan and red date tea but it may not be adequate.
Hence, do consume plenty of longan and red date tea but also not forgetting to have plain warm water at times as well.

Source Credit: http://www.todaysmotherhood.com/2010/08/top-4-confinement-myths/

Food to Avoid During 1st Week of Confinement

These are food known to be avoid during  first 10 days of confinement / first 10 days after given birth.

Chicken

Ginger
Whether fresh or in wine, as it can delay healing of any wound and if baby has jaundice it can make it worse.

Spicy Food


*Alcohol
It is best to cook the alcohol before having it in your diet.
Alcohol evaporates when cooked so the amount in breast milk is very little to cause any harm to your baby.

* Use appropriately

Confinement Recipe 1

Following tonic or soup should on be consumer on week 2 onwards after labor.

 八珍补血补气排骨汤
Double Boiled "Ba Zhen" Pork Rib  Tonic

何手乌炖 鸡汤
Double Boiled "He Shou Wu" (Polygonum)  Chicken Soup
(It benefits the liver & kidney, blackens the hair and defies aging)


杜仲排骨汤
Duzhong (Eucommia Bark) Pork Rib soup
(Eucommia Bark is one of the best herbs for strengthening the kidneys . It also help to lower blood pressure and is specially beneficial to those who suffer from high blood pressure during pregnancy)

猪脚醋/ 醋排骨
Black Vinegar Trotter / Pork Rib
(The Chinese believe that black vinegar purifies the  blood & cleanse the arties while the old ginger drives out the wind. As a precaution against the vinegar being  too acidic & therefore weakening the stomach, the  glutinous ligaments and collagen of the pig’s trotters   are in the dish to serve as a lubricant)  

天麻鸡汤
#Double Boiled "Tian Ma"Chicken" Soup
(This soup benefits the liver, expels wind, eases anxiety and tonifies the blood)


准山芡实煲瘦肉开胃汤
Double Boiled Lean Meat w/Dioscorea  Yam Soup    


credits: http://www.natalessentials.com/conf_menu.html