Postpartum Traditions Around the World: What New Mothers Used to Have—And What We're Missing

In many parts of the world, the postpartum period isn’t just a medical recovery—it's a sacred, protected time. Entire cultures have long embraced the idea that a new mother needs to be cared for just as attentively as her newborn. From healing rituals and specialized diets to extended rest and emotional support, these traditions were designed to ease the physical, mental, and emotional transition into motherhood.

🌸 A Look at Global Traditions

• China: The practice of zuò yuè zi ("sitting the month") encourages mothers to stay indoors for 30–40 days postpartum. Family members cook special warming meals, manage chores, and ensure the mother gets full rest.

• India: New mothers are often given oil massages, traditional foods, and 40 days of recovery time. Female relatives care for the household and newborn so the mother can focus on healing.

• West Africa: In countries like Mali and Senegal, postpartum care includes belly binding, hot compresses, herbal baths, and round-the-clock support from other women—practices rooted in both wellness and cultural solidarity.

• Latin America: In Mexican culture, la cuarentena is a 40-day recovery period where extended family and community step in to help, often centered around emotional connection and spiritual healing.

• North America: North American women observed a practice called “lying-in”, a period of rest lasting a few weeks after childbirth. It was customary in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in rural or close-knit communities, for extended family—especially mothers or grandmothers—to come stay with the new mother and manage household tasks.

  
  

🏙️ What Happened to These Traditions?

 In countries like Canada and the U.S., these tradition faded as hospital births, short maternity stays, and the nuclear family model became the norm. As societies became more industrialized, urbanized, and individualistic, these support systems dispersed:

• Families live farther apart.

• Communities are more fragmented.

• There's more pressure for new moms to “bounce back” quickly.

• Maternity care often ends shortly after birth, leaving mothers with minimal postpartum follow-up.

The result? Many women suffer in silence, explaining the rise in postpartum depression, anxiety, and burnout. Studies show that up to 18% of Canadian mothers experience symptoms consistent with postpartum depression—and likely more go undiagnosed.

💛 Why Postpartum Support Still Matters

A supported mother is better equipped—physically, mentally, and emotionally—to care for her baby and herself. Postpartum support is a form of preventive care that can:

• Reduce stress

• Ease physical recovery

• Prevent feelings of isolation

• Strengthen mother-infant bonding

• Lower the risk of depression and anxiety

🌿 Maison Maman: Recreating the Village in Montreal

At Maison Maman, we believe no mother should have to navigate the postpartum period alone.

We offer services rooted in compassion and tradition, including:

• In-home presence and night support

• Postnatal massage with warm compresses and belly binding

• Emotional support and non-medical care

• Workshops and resources to help families thrive

Whether you need rest, reassurance, or simply someone by your side during those long nights, Maison Maman is here to help you feel held, not alone.

🌆 A Modern Solution with Traditional Heart

In a world that often forgets the mother after the baby is born, we are here to remember her.

If you're in the Montreal area and looking for meaningful, heart-centered postpartum support, reach out to Maison Maman. We're reviving the village—one mother at a time.