Being pregnant, getting a baby is so joyful. Being pregnant, delivering the baby, taking care of the baby is eventful but there are lot of pain, effort and time involved. While being pregnant and delivering the baby, mom's health undergoes lot of hormonal and physical changes which is very difficult to understand by men. Historically, there have been more normal (vaginal) delivery and in the recent decades we are also experiencing caesarian (surgical) deliveries. Both has pain and both needs good amount of recovery time for the mom to get back to routine. In each part of India we eat different food.. more Roti in the north, more rice in the south, more seafood in coastal parts. These were followed for several reasons and primarily due to availability/cultivation at their respective region. After the delivery of the baby, each part of India follows different food restriction and recommendation for the mom which will be helpful for her and the newborn. Most of these food restriction is to reduce any reactions in the body like - to avoid becoming heat, gas, cold.. and the recommendations is to enhance the capability in the body or make them better - to maintain the body temperature, increase fiber. These recommendations are strictly followed for ~45 days by when the mom will be almost recovered.
Usually the food prepared for the moms are with more fat, less spicy/hot, less gastric and fresh for each meal.. I am not an expert in this and don't want to recommend anything to the readers... there were several reasons why this was done and this has been proved to work. These days we hear/see doctors advising moms to have anything they want on the same day of delivery too. Lets see the reasons that our ancestors followed restrictions and do they applicable in current age..
Why/Reasons:
* After the delivery, mom will be very very tired and don't want to mess up with her body anymore. Simple/easy to digest food is better to avoid any medication.
* Mom would have lost lot of blood and will require food that will help her to generate the blood soon.
* With lot of discomforts in her body, its better to avoid gastric food. Since the body is already very weak, upset stomach will make it worsen.
* While breastfeeding baby gets the nutrition and taste. Infant might not be able to handle flavors for a while.
* Helps smoother recovery by improving digestion, decreasing harmful effects.
Now:
* The physical tiredness of the mom and immune system of the baby remains the same at any decade/century. This is already proven and if we follow its only going to help. There are medications available for gastric or indigestion, but is it required will be the question we have for ourselves.
* If not 45 days, try out 30 days and slowly start the regular diet to ensure things are fine.
Why taps outside house ?
We are surrounded by apartment complex and don't see newer independent houses coming along in the neighborhood.. Is it good or bad.. that gets into a separate topic but why did they had taps outside the houses in early days..Yes tap/bucket of water/some means of water available in front and front/back of the house. People getting into the house will freshen up and wash their hands and legs before entering in. This has been there in most of the homes and with the apartment complex where will the water drain ? ;) Jokes apart.. this was required because people were walking bare foot most of the time and they don't want to bring in any infection inside the house. They want to be clean when entering the house so that people in the house are safe. There is also a culture which is still followed where people wash legs and bath in the backyard if they go to death..or the house where someone died recently. To keep themselves and environment clean this has been followed and more apparently because the bathrooms were outside the house. It is also common to bath in the backyard after having a haircut/shaving. People who live close by to river/lake will even go to river after their haircut for bathing. Its also a habit for the guests to use the tap before getting into house. This is also similar to what they do in the temples and most of the temples still have this available.
Why/Reasons:
* To keep environment clean and eliminate any infection due to their job/visit. Straight and simple :-)
Now:
* Most of us don't walk barefoot. If we wear shoes, this will not be necessary unless shoes are so dirty.
* With the apartment, we don't have backyard or taps in front of the house. If we have a tap, me and my neighbor will be watering each others hallway.
* If you use hand sanitizer outside your home you protect yourself from infection but when entering the house it will feel better to use the bathroom to eliminate the infection.
* Making this as a habit for everyone will make sure kids do this when they are back from school or playground.
Why/Reasons:
* To keep environment clean and eliminate any infection due to their job/visit. Straight and simple :-)
Now:
* Most of us don't walk barefoot. If we wear shoes, this will not be necessary unless shoes are so dirty.
* With the apartment, we don't have backyard or taps in front of the house. If we have a tap, me and my neighbor will be watering each others hallway.
* If you use hand sanitizer outside your home you protect yourself from infection but when entering the house it will feel better to use the bathroom to eliminate the infection.
* Making this as a habit for everyone will make sure kids do this when they are back from school or playground.