What We Can Learn from Other Cultures' Celebrations of (and Support for) New Mothers

However, some cultures around the world use a completely different strategy, emphasizing ceremony, rest, food, and close community care.

And truthfully? We might pick up a few tips.

Let us examine how other cultures celebrate new motherhood and what we can take (or fight for) to make the postpartum period kinder, safer, and more compassionate.

1. China: Zuò Yuè Zi's "Sitting the Month"

The first thirty to forty days following childbirth are regarded as sacred in traditional Chinese society. Known as Zuò Yuè Zi, or "sitting the month," this time of year is all about recuperation, warmth, and repose.

New mothers:

Remain inside and stay away from chilly weather, guests, and household tasks.

are looked after by their mother or a postpartum nanny (yue sao) that they hired.

Consume soups, stews, and teas that are high in nutrients to help you regain your strength.

2. Kraamzorg: Postpartum Home Nurses in the Netherlands

They assist with:

Care and feeding of newborns

Mum's physical recuperation

Cleaning and assistance from siblings

Comforting words and useful guidance

Insurance covers the service in full or in part.

3. India: Ayurvedic Recovery and 40 Days of Rest

Similar to Chinese customs, Indian postpartum customs commemorate the 40 days of confinement during which the new mother is supposed to remain at home, rest, and spend time with her child.

In this period:

Every day, warm oils are used to massage the mother.

Traditional dishes are prepared by the family using warming spices (such as fenugreek and turmeric).

She stays away from stress, cold beverages, and strenuous activities.

It combines community caregiving, spiritual care, and Ayurvedic healing.

4. The "Cuarentena": Mexico and Central America

The cuarentena is a 40-day postpartum phase in Mexico and other Latin cultures where a new mother is safeguarded, cared for, and fed.

She frequently:

fed hot, iron-rich foods (think herbal teas, atoles, and broths)

Protected from guests or housework

given sobada massages and belly binding

Doulas and female relatives may be actively involved.

5. Japan: The Coming Home to the Family

It is typical for new mothers in Japan to spend a few weeks or months living with their own mother. We refer to this procedure as satogaeri bunben.

The granny there:

cooks, cleans, and looks after the new mother and child on a daily basis.

shares knowledge and facilitates the creation of routines

builds a supportive environment that spans generations.

Why Isn't This Support Provided to Everyone?

Quick response? Culture. Capitalism. And the independence myth.

There is an unwritten law in many Western societies: the baby becomes the center of attention after birth. The mother becomes background noise—expected to mend in silence, smile despite lack of sleep, and "bounce back" as if it were a sport.

However, birth is a significant event on a bodily, emotional, and spiritual level. It is not merely impossible to expect a woman to go through everything and resume her regular life in six weeks, frequently without paid leave or any assistance. It is inhumane.

Different Approaches We Can Take (Even Without a Village)

You might not have a warm broth-wielding aunt or a full-time nurse. However, here's how to recover some of that traditional postpartum care:

Create Your Own Circle

Invite loved ones to plan a dinner train.

Even if it seems odd, accept offers of assistance.

If at all possible, get a postpartum doula.

Make a Plan for Rest

Keep the first two to six weeks after giving birth holy.

Reduce the bar, cancel plans, and cook in bulk.

Yes, you should sleep when the baby does.

Eat As If It Were Important

Give warm, nutrient-dense foods priority.

Drink teas that promote hormone balance and lactation.

Never miss meals; instead, ask someone to feed you.

Give up "Bouncing Back."

Your body just did something amazing.

It is okay if your identity changes.

You are not supposed to go back to "normal." You are supposed to change.

Conclusion: What Would Happen If Mothers Were Considered Sacred Beings?

Motherhood in the West frequently forgets that you are someone who requires care, not just someone who provides it. Other cultures serve as a reminder of this.

Imagine celebrating new mothers with foot rubs, soups, silence, and six weeks of rest instead of pressure or Pinterest-perfect baby showers.

What if we paid as much attention to a mother's birth as we do to a baby's?

There is still time to begin. It begins with one dialogue, one story exchanged, and one courageous request for assistance.Because you are also worthy of a village.