Post-birth confinement practices seem rigid, so why would anyone follow them?

Can I wash my hair? Go outside or drink cold water? Do what works for you.

Over 85 per cent of new mums in Singapore adhered to some sort of confinement regime. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Over the course of my pregnancy, I had grown to think of myself as a pretty decent modern millennial mother-to-be.

I was crushing it. Despite nausea, fatigue and other hardships experienced as a first-time mum of over 35, I had moved to The Straits Times to start a new role, completed a mentorship programme for aspiring independent directors and enjoyed a multi-destination babymoon in the US.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.