// Chinese Confinement Foods

Sometimes, our Chinese older folks make like the post natal period is a very complicated issue and causes a lot of new mothers to worry unnecessary. Although there are many basis for the do’s and don’ts, being the educated, modern moms, one should not just believe without some common sense.

Sometimes, what they suggested are extremely bad for health and dangerous to the new mothers and newborns. So, always rely on your doctors. For example, there are herbs and alcohol which can cause severe bleeding and if given to a woman who just delivered a baby, she may even go into shock due to sudden bleeding. Remember that the womb may not be fully healed and hence, do not take any herbs during that period. Our body needs nourishments from basic food stuffs such as those that have lots of fibres (oat is best), protein and maybe a bit of ginger to expel the gasses.

This black fungus with chicken and ginger is a very nice dish. You may add some DOM or brandy when your post-partum bleeding is not fresh blood anymore. A little of alcohol added into the cooking is ok, provided it is cooked for a while so that the alcohol is evaporated in the cooking. Otherwise, you may pass on the alcohol to your baby through the breastmilk.

To prepare :

Soak the thick black, fungus till soft. (it is said that the black fungus acts as a blood cleanser)

Chop chicken into tiny pieces. (You may want to try kampung chicken for the post-partum period.)

Huge piece of ginger, slice and cut finely

Sesame oil

Some alcohol like DOM or brandy (if preferred)

Dark soya sauce, light soya sauce and a bit of sugar and pepper

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Heat sesame oil, stir fry ginger till fragrant, add in the chicken. Add some water and the black fungus plus the soya sauce. Simmer till the gravy thickens.

This is not a secret recipe, just one of those soup which MIL makes at home, and I have definitely noticed a marked increase in the milk I pump during the day if I consume this soup for dinner the night before. Plus, its delicious

White radish (lobak) - One, cut into big chunks
Dried Oysters (Soaked till soft) - a handful
Optional - Dried Scallops (Soaked till soft) - a handful
Water (approx 2 big bowls)
Cooking oil (1 teaspoon)
Salt & Pepper (seasoned to taste)
Spring onions (optional)

1. Fry the dried oysters and scallops (opt) till fragrant.
2. Add the water and the white radish
3. Boil till the soup is slightly milky white
4. Add salt, pepper, spring onion.

You can add chicken bones or pork ribs to this soup to make it even ’sweeter’.

MIL said the dried oysters can improve milk supply. Don’t know how true, but this soup has worked for me all the time.
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Jolin Moommy to two little ladies.

Here’s a simple recipe to enhance milk (taught by my mom-in law). It works on me.. Just take 5-10 minutes to cook… tasty also.

50g of gingers (crushed in lesong) - can use more if prefered
3 eggs (kampung) - mix well
A bowl of water
Salt

1. Heat 1-2 TSP of oil (or sesame oil)
2. Mix crushed gingers into eggs. Pour the mixture into the oil. Cook until egg is done.
3. Pour in a bowl of water. After the water boil, simmer in lower heat until the colour of the water becomes white.
4. Add in some chinese rice wine (the type chinese usually cook with chicken during confinement period - huang jiu/wine made from red rice). Add salt to taste.

Variety: the chinese rice wine can be replaced by using mixture of `great wall vinegar’ and `ka ting sweet vinegar’.

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My friend told me that `MALTA’ drink also enhance milk supply.

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Nyee-Fan, Kota Kinablu

SALTED FISH TOFU SOUP (This taste yummy and I can personally testify that it really increases milk.) Being from Penang, I can get hold of fresh mergui bones. Make sure that you get fresh looking salted fish bones.)3-4 pieces of salted fish bones, 2 pieces soft tofu (the white, square variety), some chicken bones, big piece of ginger crushed, several pips of garlic. 2 litre water. Pepper to taste. Cook the soup for about 1 hour. Taste good when left overnight.

GREEN PAPAYA SOUP (no pic ‘cos I am way past my confinement and can’t bring myself to cook this soup again.) - Credit goes to Christina of Ipoh for sharing this recipe.1/2 green papaya (ask from your neighbour or get the greenest you can find from the grocer), 300gm garoupa fish tail, garlic, black peppercorns crushed, ginger crushed. Slow boil all the ingredients till the soup looks milky.

*Green papaya has sap which is used as a meat tenderiser. It has something to do with the enzyme. I know dentist normally give papase to reduce swelling after extraction. The papaya that I used normally are rather ripe and orangey. Never tried a totally green sappy papaya, so I won’t dare to recommend to anyone.

A few of our Malay and Indian members said that white radish/lobak putih is one of the vegetable their old folks recommend for an increase in milk quantity. Here is one Chinese recipe for white radish soup. Shown in the picture is the radish, some red dates and dried cuttlefish. Here’s the complete recipe:1 white radish about 500 gm, half *cuttlefish cut into small pieces, 8 red dates, some chicken bones for stock, a few pips garlic, white pepper and salt to taste. 2 liter water. Simmer in slow cooker overnight or for about 3-4 hours.

*According to the Cantonese, dried octopus (pat chow yee) is supposed to increase milk.

Please note : Chinese moms are not allowed to take white radish during the postnatal period as this vegetable is considered ‘cooling’.

This is the traditional Chinese (Cantonese) recipe that every new mom has to eat during confinement. The sweetened vinegar is guaranteed to bring on the milk. Not sure how it works but it really works for me! I have modified the recipe using beef tendons. Seen here (click on the photo for a bigger picture) is the sweetened vinegar from China (cost only RM2.50 per bottle and the mandatory sesame oil/minyak lenga that our moms/moms-in-law forced us Chinese moms to use in our cooking during confinement). 1 bottle of sweetened vinegar, 2 tablespoon of sesame oil, 500 gms beef tendons, 6 dried chillies, large piece of ginger - bruised, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 50 gms of black fungus( large and thick variety).

Heat sesame oil, stir fry ginger, add all the rest of the ingredients and simmer in slow cooker for at least 4 hours. Note that I do not add water nor salt. This dish taste best kept overnight. In place of beef tendons, use gluten balls (sold in supermarket cold section, looking like playdough) A healthier vegetarian food alternative.

Warning : Fenugreek is a spice commonly used in curries. However, health supplement stores do sell them in capsules and they are meant to reduce blood pressure. Pregnant mothers must AVOID fenugreek because they may cause miscarriage.

However, fenugreek is one of the things that many breastfeeding moms swear can increase their breastmilk production. So, if you have just delivered a baby, do try this soup. However, if you have given birth several months ago and you may run the risk of getting pregnant again, do NOT take it.

Fenugreek fish soup recipe

Lemongrss (serai) 2-3 stalks bruised

Ginger - Thumb size, smashed

Ikan bilis (anchovies which will provide some calcium) - Handful

Ikan senangin or any white fish or chicken

Fenugreek or biji halba - 2 tablespoons

2 litre water.

Boil the herbs for 45mins to 1 hr and add in either fish or chicken slices to cook. Add salt and pepper to taste.

The secret to having a lot of milk is to diligently make sure that you drink plenty of liquids (not just plain water) in the form of soups, healthy drinks like Milo, Horlicks, milk, herbal teas, dates tea. Each day, I also drink endless mugs of Japanese green tea or chamomile tea diffuse from just one tea bag. Each woman must attempt to nurse their baby but when circumstances do not permit, expressing works very well too.

However, during the postnatal period, most Chinese women are not allowed to drink just any type of drinks and they are limited to drink only :

1) Hot Milo

2) Hot Horlicks

3) Red dates tea

4) Rice tea which is uncooked rice fried till a bit brown along with some ginger and then, steep in water.

5) Lots of healthy chicken soup

6) Milk with oats

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