Drinking Water During Confinement, A Myth?

"I drank plain water during confinement as I am heaty after taking confinement foods. My leg swellness was gone after 4 days. However, the tummy will takes longer to slim down. I am already back to my pre-pregnancy weight but I still cannot wear my jeans. Haha."

"I guess it is more of a myth in the modern scientific world now. However, personally I would rather play safe by not drinking any plain water if possible. Since red dates or longan drinks are good for health too, I don't see any harm drinking them often too. Just make sure no additional sugars are added to it to prevent unnecessary sugar intakes. But if really there is a crave for plain water or when you are too sick with the same old red dates drink, I guess a sip of plain water won't do any much side effect too. =)"

"That also depends on your body characteristics, if your body is strong and warm base (like you can't do without aircon at all times, after eating some fried stuffs or biscuits, you'll get sore throat,ulcer etc) you can drink plain water, that's what my friend did as she can't drink the red date & longan at all, cos' it make her too heated up during confinement, can't pass motion. After several years later, she's still look good, very tone body. So it's really a myth, it all depends on your lifestyle. But for my body, which I'm always afraid of cold, must wear jackets whenever in air-con room, then during this crucial period, is the best time to regain more heat by drinking some warm red dates/longan drink. If you don't really like the drink, you can always replace with Milo or Horlicks if you're breastfeeding. It works for me too."

"I have just delivered my baby and have been drinking lots of plain water in addition to the red date and longan drink. My waist has already shrunk down to around 25 inches after just a week of delivering my baby. My weight has also dropped by 6-7kg in the same period. Therefore, I feel that there is no basis of abstaining from plain water. In fact, drinking water helps to kerb water retention and it is crucial to drink enough fluids if you are breastfeeding."

"Well, I super craved for plain water during my confinement. My mum forbabe me from drinking as she says will 'jing feng' as in can't expel the 'wind' in the body. However, I got nipple infection during my confinement time & I was down with fever. GP says can drink a bit to lower body temp. so I indulged in it. But I believed that taking red dates & longans is good for the confinement mummy as it's heaty so it helps you to sweat to expel the wind and toxins from the body. I love this tea so much that after my confinement, I still boiled to drink but then ended up with pimples as it's really very heaty. So there must be a reason why confinement mummies can drink so much of that tea and yet not heaty for them."

"My mum shared that she took plain water during confinement that's why her tummy is so big now. That freaks me out, so I was really obedient and didn't touch any plain water except longan dates drink and glad to say that my tummy has gone down within 4 months and I can fit into all my pre pregnancy clothes when I went back to work :)"

"The TCM perspective believes that a large amount of energy (Qi) and blood is lost during childbirth and women tend to be in a cold state post-partum. Hence, confinement is a critical period to restore the mother's health, balance and strength. Traditionally, dietary and lifestyle precautions are followed during this month-long period. One of the dietary precautions is that mothers should wholly replace plain water intake with longan with red drink. Longans and red dates are warming and sweet in nature. When brewed together into a drink, it aids in tonifying Qi and blood, warms the stomach, spleen and uterus and improves sleep. While Longan with red dates drink is considered beneficial for new mothers, there is absolutely no harm in taking plain water. In fact, new mothers need to constantly stay hydrated to ensure good kidney function and substantial supply of breast milk. However, it is generally recommended to consume warm water rather cold water."

"I still think the best is to follow Jamu wrap religiously. Works for me thus far, but i do realised that if i tend to slouch when i breastfeed, then the tummy will get abit bigger after a while"

"You can but its better to drink red dates drink It helps to replenish the lost blood"

"I swear by breastfeeding. It worked for me. I also did jama wrap. I drank both red data/ longan tea & water. I was able to wear my Pre-pregnancy clothes when I returned to work. Thank goodness! Or else have to spend money on getting a new wardrobe of clothes!"

"I swear by breastfeeding. It worked for me. I also did jama wrap. I drank both red data/ longan tea & water. I was able to wear my Pre-pregnancy clothes when I returned to work. Thank goodness! Or else have to spend money on getting a new wardrobe of clothes!"

"The part about tummy swelling I'm not too sure but my mum said during her confinement in the late 70s, she drank a lot of plain water instead of red dates drink & had quite severe water retention. Since red dates drink consists of water as well & taste better than plain water, why not? "

"There is no scientific evidence to show that drinking plain water will cause the tummy’s swelling to remain. It is encouraged that all new mothers drink plenty of fluids to support breastfeeding and reduce water retention. Try to drink fluid after every breastfeeding session. Your fluid intake can be in the form of water, red dates and longan drink, tea, soup, etc. It is best however to try to reduce your intake of sugar sweetened beverages as it may cause you to gain weight. Do ask for reduced or no sugar drinks."

"I think it is okay to drink some plain water during confinement. Some people advise not to drink plain water in the first 20 days after childbirth because they are afraid that drinking too much plain water can affect metabolism, and cause water retention, visceral ptosis, which may lead to rheumatism, neuralgia and other women's diseases in future. But the fact is that we need to stay hydrated with 8-10 glasses of fluids including drinking plain water. Being hydrated helps our body to produce breast milk. Many Chinese believe in drinking Longan and Red Date tea as it is warm in nature and helps in blood circulation and has a calming effect. So I guess it is okay to drink plain water in moderation. "

"According to my mother and confinement lady, plain water is too 'cooling' for the body, will cause water retention too. The longan and red dates are 'heaty' to provide the warmth needed and helps in 'replenishing blood'. Most importantly, when I took the longan and red dates drink (even when it is cool, I sweat immediately. This helps to purge out the excess water and toxins from the body. By week 3, I can it into my pre-pregnancy clothes already. The drink is also nice and sweet, I still continue to make it now and then to drink. "

"I am not sure if it is true or a myth. But personally, I did not drink plain water during confinement. My baby is now 8 months old and my tummy still hasnt subside. When I tried to do sit up, all I get is a pointed muscle. My tummy is neither flabby nor soft but its hard and it just seems to get bigger as the day progress. The bottom line is that it differs with different mothers as to how long it takes for the tummy to go down. Dont put too much pressure on yourself. Based on other mothers I have spoken to, some claim that breastfeeding helps but others said that their tummy subside only after they stop breastfeeding. "

"It's a myth But the Chinese practice is still to drink red dates and Logan drinks. Reason being that it will keeps you warm and heaty so that you will not feel cold. To prevent my mother and mil from being unhappy, I only drink that during my confinement. "