The Big C #2 - Confinement Plans

Confinement.
30 to 40 days of postpartum period where the new mother rests and recuperates.

I've had a hard time deciding how my confinement will be done. I wish I didn't have to do the confinement, honestly, but everyone says this is an opportunity to 'reset' your health.
Some people engage Confinement Ladies to tide them through the one month.
Some go for DIY confinements where their mothers or mother-in-laws take care of them and the baby during that period.

We've had many concerns and after much consideration, we decided that the hubby would be 75%Confinement Daddy with assistance from my mother-in-law. We are both new to caring for a newborn so we figured he will need some time to learn.
As the parents, we will be the sole caregivers for Baby (quoting the husband, "I'll clean her little hands and her little feet.") while my mother-in-law mainly takes care of my dietary needs. We thought it will be better that way than have my mother-in-law take care of the baby in case we struggle after that.
My parents will be popping by with some food and helping with the cleaning.

It's going to be a steep learning curve for us new parents but I'm sure we will manage along the way.

*
I mentioned why confinement sounds dreadful to me.
After a talk with the husband, this is what we agreed on, and how I intend to go about 'bending the rules'.

BATH:
I need to shower everyday.
That period of time I caught chicken pox, I wasn't allowed to bathe and I got really depressed.
I didn't even know how I should go to school for my exams. I think I must have smelled funny.
It was slightly bearable only because I had the company of the sister who was going through the exact same thing.
Those days during the first trimester when I was really weak (and I stayed in the air-conditioned room the whole day long) I can only get by not showering for two days.

Thankfully the husband agrees that personal hygiene shouldn't be compromised.
I will be taking a bath daily. At the most, I'll rinse off with the herbal water followed by cooled boiled water. And I'll make sure I dry myself immediately after.

If I feel really weak, I may do the 'wipe down' instead.


THE HAIR:
It will definitely be washed!
We can't compromise personal hygiene.
Maybe on alternate days. Or at the most, three days.
I'll make sure I blow dry it after.


FLUID CONSUMPTION:
Okay. This, I'll be a good girl and I will follow. But if I really need to quench thirst, give me diluted tea please.


SIT DOWN!
This, I will try to follow as well. But like I said, don't put me on a guilt trip if I really forget.


I'm glad the husband is very supportive and encouraging with this whole confinement thing.
If I'm already a teeny weeny bit uptight about confinement at this stage, I cannot imagine what I may be like when the day finally comes.

Now that I have it out of my system, I'm a happy momma again! :)


Update:
I came across this as I was googling on confinement practices.
Now backed by TCM (Eu Yan Sang, please), I can officially announce to the mums:

I will be bathing!