Have you heard of the “Golden Month”?
The Golden Month is a traditional practice observed in many cultures around the world. You may know it as Zuoyuezi in China or Sanhujori in Korea, or you may have heard it called the “Confinement Period”. But ultimately it refers to the first month after childbirth, where the mother receives specialised care and support to promote her physical and emotional recovery.
This month is “Golden” as it signifies the preciousness and reverence towards this transformative phase in a woman's life.
During the Golden Month, new mothers are encouraged to prioritise the following:
🛌 Rest
New mothers should avoid strenuous activities and allow time to focus on healing their bodies after the rigours of childbirth. The mother may receive assistance from family members, friends, or hired professionals to help with household chores, cooking, and baby care, allowing her to fully devote herself to recovery.
🍛 Nourishment
Nutrition plays a vital role during the Golden Month. In some cultures, they often emphasise warm, nutrient-rich foods that are believed to aid in healing, boost energy levels, and promote lactation.
🥰 Self-care
In addition to physical care, the Golden Month recognises the emotional and psychological adjustments that accompany motherhood. The mother is encouraged to express her emotions, seek support from loved ones, and establish a strong bond with her newborn. Rituals and traditions specific to the culture may also be observed, such as ceremonial baths, massages, or prayers, which are believed to promote healing and provide a sense of spiritual grounding.
How can we implement a Golden “Period”?
The purpose of the Golden Month is to provide new mothers with a nurturing environment, allowing them to recover from childbirth, replenish their energy, and bond with their baby. It may be unrealistic in this fast paced world to take a full month to recover, but there are steps that can be taken to help new mothers in having a Golden Period:
📝 Forward Plan
How can you lighten the load before the baby arrives so you have less to worry about when they are born? Maybe you can bulk cook nutritious meals and freeze them or research any meal plans you might want to sign up to so cooking can drop off the list. Additionally you can set up shopping lists for online supermarkets like Kibsons or Carrefour of those regular items you buy on a weekly basis to save time when reordering.
🗣 Communicate
To avoid “heat of the moment” discussions when you’re exhausted, list out some responsibilities that can be shared to lighten the load. Whether it's who can help change the diapers or manage the household, have a discussion with your partner or others in your household to agree on roles and responsibilities so the burden doesn’t end up falling on the mother and putting a stop to much needed rest.
🤝 Lean on others
If you have family or friends that can support you at this time, call on them. Whether it’s having them prepare meals or hold the baby while you get much needed sleep, don’t be scared to rely on others who will be happy to help!
🏨 Professional support
The aim of The ÔM Journey is to help hold the mother. Soon new mothers can book into a postpartum sanctuary where they can stay for 3 days or more, in a 5 star resort with nourishing meals provided and access to support. This space allows mothers to focus on themselves, their baby and their recovery so they can fully embrace those first few special weeks without the stresses of everyday life. You can learn more about HÔME from HÔME here.
💕 Community
You may have a million and one questions, or you need someone to chat to when you’re up doing the nighttime feed. With The ÔM Journey’s CÔMMUNITY you can engage with a tribe of mothers who are going through the same things. Learn more about joining the CÔMMUNITY here.
New mothers go through profound physical and emotional changes and it’s so important to have the space to take care of yourself. Will you aim to implement a Golden Month or aspects of it for a healy transition into motherhood? Share this to new parents who may find it helpful 💛✨
