What is postnatal confinement and what is a postnatal doula?

Postnatal confinement is all about mothering the mother. It is a practice that started in China over 2000 years ago and is now widely practiced across Asia. Confinement refers to the period right after birth and a doula is a person who comes to support the mother. The main focus of a confinement doula is to help the mother heal from her pregnancy and labour so she can avoid any future health problems. It is done by providing the mother with a nutritious diet rooted in the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, by giving the mother lots of time to rest, and by supporting her in lactation, massages, household chores and looking after the baby.

This holistic approach not only benefits the mother and her family, but it also has wider impact on her employer, our economy and our society. A well supported mother can be a full participant in her roles outside of motherhood and that makes for a stronger economy, and a healthier and happier society.