What does confinement mean to me? Well first, let me introduce you to my Confinement Nanny whom we fondly refer to as Kam Fong. As with most good nannies, she is highly sought after and you have to book her as soon as the blue line shows up on your preggers kit. When I first introduced Emma to Aunty Kam Fong, she looked puzzled and asked, "Why do we need a Kung Fu Aunty?"....
Anyway, I have never had a confinement nanny for my previous 2 deliveries, so why did I decide to enagage one this time? Well, we plan for this to be our last pregnancy and I heard that if you wanted to correct all the "wrongs" that you did to your body from "not doing the right [confinement] things" after your previous pregnancies, you need to ensure that you do do the right things after your last delivery. If you don't, you will have missed your boat... Ok, whether it is true or not, I don't know, but I don't want to have missed no boat and be doomed with aches and pains when I get older. Most people get confinement nannies to care for the baby, but I got her to care for ME ME me!!! I am totally ok with caring for baby myself cos that is what I had always done previously and it is also what I've been looking forward to.
Ok, so back to "What does confinement mean to me?".....
1. Confinement Food - I eat whatever the nanny makes me eat (exceptions discussed upon her arrival barred and these included any intestines or inerts of anything!) Well, Kam Fong is a fabulous cook and I look forward to every single meal. They say that you mustn't diet in the 1st month after delivering, so.... I am not! :) Luckily I haven't put on weight after the delivery despite the 2nds and 3rds I am having! Must be true what they say about exclusive breastfeeding!
2. Confinement Drink - I drink red dates water all the time. I am not supposed to drink much water at all. Red Dates water is fine with me but I still drink water cos I am sure it can' be good for anyone not to drink plain water for a month. The water has to be warm though which is fine with me cos that's what I always have regardless.
3. Confinement Bath - Contrary to what ppl say, I do have a bath everyday (and am not disobeying the nanny either!) The only thing is that the water that I use to bathe has to be "cool boiled water" which means that Kam Fong has to prepare it the day before and let it cool. Prior to me bathing, she would add freshly boiled water to it so that it is nice and hot for bathing. She will also add some herbal confinement stuff in my bath water sometimes which is completely fine cos I still get to use my usual soap hence end up smelling and feeling great after! Oh, the only rule to this is that you can't bathe at night - not a huge deal.
4. Confinement Hair Wash- Ok, this is a bit of a bummer for me cos I am used to washing my hair daily, sometimes even several times a day. Now, I am only allowed to wash my hair about once a week. If I wanted to,I think I could request for more often hair washes, but so far I have been obedient. Luckily I don't really have greasy hair in general anyway. When I do wash my hair, Kam Fong would have to prepare a special concoction of water. (Of course with the infamous "cool boiled water") I also use shampoo and conditioner as usual. The water actually smells lovely and I feel like I have gone for some spa treatment at the end of it!
5. Confinement Feet! - I have to wear bedroom slippers everywhere I go (I mean in the house of course). Not a huge deal except that I do forget cos I am so used to not wearing them but now that I am getting used to wearing them, I think I might even continue after. It feels nice and cosy!!!
6. Confinement Climate - Kam Fong has never told me that I can't have the airconditioning on (probably cos she knows it is impossible in Singapore!), but I know that officially (according to whom?), you are not meant to have any air blowing at you, be it the aircon or the fan. Anyway I am in airconditioning almost all day long. That's what I need in order to be able to follow all the other "rules" that add to you feeling HOT~!
7. Home Confinement - I would say that I have been rather good. I am home almost all the time. There have been a few exceptions (e.g. My Birthday dinner with Paul, taking the girls to watch High School Musical On Ice & NDP fireworks) Each of those outings were also very short. To be honest, after delivery your body is pretty messed up and naturally, you wouldn't really want to go out anyway. I did feel I needed to spend some quality time with the girls though.
I would say that I follow the confinement rules about 90% and am about half-way through. :)
Look out for my blog update in about 20 years time to see if all this has paid off and I am free of the dreaded aches and pains!!!!
I look forward to the National Day Rally in general cos that's when good ol' Singapore announces all the great handouts they will be giving us. Especially when it is close to the election year! To be honest, I think the government is coddling us, but who's complaining!
2. Confinement Drink - I drink red dates water all the time. I am not supposed to drink much water at all. Red Dates water is fine with me but I still drink water cos I am sure it can' be good for anyone not to drink plain water for a month. The water has to be warm though which is fine with me cos that's what I always have regardless.
3. Confinement Bath - Contrary to what ppl say, I do have a bath everyday (and am not disobeying the nanny either!) The only thing is that the water that I use to bathe has to be "cool boiled water" which means that Kam Fong has to prepare it the day before and let it cool. Prior to me bathing, she would add freshly boiled water to it so that it is nice and hot for bathing. She will also add some herbal confinement stuff in my bath water sometimes which is completely fine cos I still get to use my usual soap hence end up smelling and feeling great after! Oh, the only rule to this is that you can't bathe at night - not a huge deal.
5. Confinement Feet! - I have to wear bedroom slippers everywhere I go (I mean in the house of course). Not a huge deal except that I do forget cos I am so used to not wearing them but now that I am getting used to wearing them, I think I might even continue after. It feels nice and cosy!!!
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