Cultural considerations in postnatal dietary and infant feeding practices among Chinese mothers in London

Abstract

Background Zuo yuezi (ZYZ) is the traditional Chinese practice of confinement for 1 month after childbirth. During this time, there are customs that Chinese mothers may choose to follow, which affect their dietary choices and how they feed their infants. Aims This study aimed to explore Chinese women's cultural considerations around their diet and infant feeding practices. Methods Ten self-identified Chinese mothers who live in London were interviewed in a qualitative study during June–September 2015. Findings All participants were aware of ZYZ and a majority practised it to varying extents, depending on practicality and availability of specific ingredients. Most of the practice was through dietary approaches, to regulate the intakes of different foods and drinks for recovery and breast milk production, to foster the balance of yin and yang based on principles of traditional Chinese medicine. The participants' partners and own mothers were important influences in shaping their diets, which suggests ZYZ as a period to help foster family bonds. All women breastfed their babies either exclusively or with supplementation of infant formula. For those who had introduced solids, the women cooked a Chinese dish called ‘congee’ (rice porridge) for their babies. There was consensus on the limited awareness of ZYZ and cultural sensitivity by midwives and health visitors in providing postpartum dietary advice, which can be contrary to their cultural beliefs. Conclusions Training and the creation of a trusted online resource available in English may help promote understanding of traditional health beliefs among health professionals, and support them to build rapport with Chinese mothers in the UK.