Can I sleep on a cool mat during confinement?

In traditional Chinese culture, "confinement" is a necessary ritual social behavior for women after giving birth. The duration may vary from one month to several months. The theme is "recuperation". Just imagine how hard it is to be pregnant for ten months, and how hard it is to give birth. After giving birth, you have to take care of and feed the baby. Both psychologically and physiologically, you are undergoing major changes. Since this period is special, there are naturally many things to pay attention to and taboos. For example, some people say that you cannot sleep on a cool mat during confinement. Is this request reasonable?

1. Can I sleep on a cool mat during confinement in summer?

In fact, it is not recommended for mothers who are in confinement after childbirth to sleep on a cool mat in the summer. If the temperature is too high, you can use air conditioning to control the room temperature at 25-28 degrees Celsius. However, special attention should be paid not to place the mother directly under the air conditioner, and she should also wear breathable trousers and long-sleeved clothes. If you really have to choose a cool mat, it is recommended not to choose a bamboo mat which feels very cool to the touch. You can choose linen or silk. At the same time, you should also avoid dyed straw mats as they may have adverse effects on your baby.

2. Things to note when you are in confinement

1. Pay attention to rest: Mothers who are weak after giving birth should not do heavy labor and should rest more to recover.

2. Avoid eating cold food: Do not eat some cold foods, as they may cause physical discomfort and are not conducive to the discharge of lochia.

3. Be careful not to catch cold: the baby’s pores are open after giving birth. Catching cold will leave sequelae, and you may suffer from back pain during the confinement period.

4. Pay attention to hygiene: Keep the vulva clean, use warm water for care and prevent infection.

5. Scientific diet: Do not eat too much nutritional food for the purpose of breastfeeding, as it may be counterproductive.

Summer confinement may be a difficult time for postpartum mothers, but now with the continuous improvement of the quality of life, mothers can use air conditioners, fans, etc. to cool down, as long as they pay attention. However, it is still not recommended for mothers to sleep on a cool mat after giving birth. Don't try to seek temporary coolness or suffer from lifelong sequelae. This is not worth it. You should still use the cool mat with caution and pay attention to your diet.