Chinese Confinement Rules.... I would like to believe they are all myths!!!!!!

Since BEFORE delivery, I have been hearing a lot of reminders about what to do and what not to do during my confinement month.

No bathing.... no washing hair until at least the 20th day.... no drinking plain water (WHAT???!?!??!?!?! some will exclaim)..... no fan, no aircond, the best is to sweat and wipe it off (YUCKS!!!! I am living in Malaysia, not the North Pole!!!!), lie down on the bed the whole day to rest (ok....some may enjoy this...)

Anyways, I know that the people who kept on reminding me of all this confinement rules meant well. But seriously, how much could I take? And also, I get depressed and stressed out fast, especially during the first few weeks post natal. Experienced it during Rachel's time, and it hindered my breastfeeding initially. So, these rules will definitely make it difficult again!!!!!

So, thank God, my mom who's more open minded came to help me for my confinement. She cooks and bathe the baby. And she understood if I needed to take a bath, AFTER 5 days of sweat in this hot Malaysian weather. And she understood that I needed to wash my hair maybe 2x a week, in this HOT Malaysian weather.....but of course, the condition is to blow dry it as soon as I step out of the bathroom!

I don't overdo it by wearing shorts or no sleeve shirt. But I would like to stay clean and dry, as I don't think the baby will like the sweat + milk + body odor combination during breastfeeding. Even Rachel at one time came to me and said "Mummy, you are smelly". That was it. That was the last straw.

And worse of all, there are so many of these rules, from so many different people, who think they are the best references!!!! If I do follow all these rules, I will be downright depressed and breastfeeding would have been really difficult....