A confinement centre is a great place for new mums to socialise and create new bonds. It is also a great place to gain insights about children, as well as new playmates for your newborn. Learn more about them here!
A confinement period is something that all mothers will go through. It includes a set of traditional post-natal practices that are meant to help new mums recover and recuperate after giving birth. It also comes with a set of rules to follow and a very specific diet plan for mums to adhere to for up to 44 days after giving birth.
Malaysia, being a multinational country, has very different confinement practices. Each culture has its own take, but one thing stays the same, which is its purpose of helping new mums to heal and recuperate from the emotional and physical tolls of childbirth. This is especially true for first-time mums.
What do mums actually do in a confinement centre? For the most part, it is for them to spend quality time with their new bundle of joy. It is also a safe place for them to learn about motherhood, such as breastfeeding and how to care for their baby, which includes bathing, burping, changing diapers and understanding how to communicate with them.
If you are a new mum, there are a few things you need to know when choosing a confinement centre, starting with the specifics of the packages:
- Availability of Boarding Services
Confinement centres often offer lodging based on your budget. It may range from premium rooms that come with a queen size bed and large windows with plenty of natural light, to suites with a gorgeous view that come with a custom-designed bathroom and a specialised wardrobe with a changing area for your little one. It truly depends on your needs and budget.
- Availability of Support Staff (Midwife and Nurse)
Most confinement centres come with trained and experienced support staff, which includes on-call nurses, midwives, and professional physicians. They are all there to make sure you and your child are cared for, physically and emotionally.
- Availability of Daily Meals
Confinement centres also offer custom meal plans to accommodate new mums. This includes meal ingredients that support the health and healing process, and even special diet plans for those who suffer from complications during births such as hypertension or diabetes. These diets and recipes also ensure to maintain or improve the quality of the mum’s breast milk. Finally, these diets and recipes can also help mums achieve their pre-pregnancy vitality and figure.
If you have additional budget to work with, here are some of the more common additional offerings that most confinement centres have:
- Child hygiene products such as diapers, nappy cream, baby soap and shampoo
- Parenting classes to teach you some tips and tricks
- Wellness classes for your body, mind, and soul
- Spa or facial services to pamper you
If you value privacy, make sure to look into the size of the confinement centre. In some centres, you’ll find yourself one of only a handful of mums ‘sitting in for the month’ or colloquially known as ‘zhor yuet’. In others, you might find yourself in a large crowd! Most confinement packages come in the form of 30-day packages, and can be extended based on the mum’s needs. To assess the quality of the centre, do some research and look into their qualifications and staff. More importantly, ask the right questions:
- How experienced are their confinement ladies?
- Are their midwives and nurses registered professionals?
- Is their cook trained in food preparation and hygienic practices?
- Are the extra classes and support services run by qualified professionals?
If all else fails, get the opinion of your mummy friends! They are all very experienced and more than happy to share some information (and probably insights) on confinement centres. You can always search for local WhatsApp groups. Who knows: you might even come across those who have actually frequented certain centres not too long ago. It’s always wise to begin your search early so you’ll have time to visit and experience it beforehand.
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