Can I use the air conditioner during the summer confinement period? Can I use the air conditioner during the summer confinement period?

The hot summer heat is hard to bear. Today, let's talk about whether you should endure the heat or turn on the air conditioner to relieve the heat during the summer confinement period. The older generation of parents will be very opposed to turning on the air conditioner during the confinement period. The reason comes from the traditional confinement care habits. So, can you turn on the air conditioner during the summer confinement period?

Can I turn on the air conditioner during confinement in summer?

High temperature during the confinement period is not good for mother and baby

After giving birth, women's sweat glands are more active and they sweat easily. In summer, the weather is hot, especially during the "dog days", which makes people sweat profusely. If new mothers blindly follow the old tradition and insist on "covering" without turning on the air conditioner, the temperature in the room will be too high, and the body's heat will be difficult to discharge smoothly. Not only will the mother and the child get prickly heat, but they will also suffer from heat stroke and even breed bacteria, hindering the smooth recovery after childbirth. In addition, children will find it difficult to fall asleep in a hot environment, and their sleep quality will plummet, which is very unfavorable to their growth and development.

Can I use air conditioning during confinement in summer?

No hair drying after childbirth ≠ no air conditioning

Indeed, the older generation said that "you can't be exposed to the wind after giving birth, otherwise it will cause bone sutures to open." However, Chinese medicine points out that "bone sutures opening" does not refer to opening the cervix, and has nothing to do with bones. Moreover, the saying that it will cause arthritis is also nonsense.

It should be pointed out that women who have just given birth are very prone to sweating, so their pores are constantly open. At this time, people are relatively weak and very sensitive to cold wind. If they are blown directly by the wind, their pores will shrink, making them prone to colds and headaches. Therefore, it is recommended not to blow cold wind or drafts.

However, this does not mean that you should refuse air conditioning during the summer confinement period. As mentioned above, the temperature in summer is too high, and blindly refusing air conditioning will only be detrimental to mother and baby. Frequent ventilation, keeping the air clean, and using air conditioning to stabilize the indoor temperature are very beneficial for both women's postpartum recovery and the health of the child.

What to eat during confinement in summer

1. Eat small meals frequently, from light to normal

Gradually transition from liquid food to normal diet. After childbirth, it takes some time for the digestive system to recover, so you can choose some foods that are easier to digest in the first few days after childbirth. You can transition from porridge and noodles to porridge, and then eat rice and pasta.

Eat small meals frequently and don’t be greedy. Because new mothers spend most of their time in bed during the confinement period, they should not eat too much at each meal and can eat when they are hungry.

2. Drink brown sugar water appropriately.

Brown sugar has a high iron content and contains a variety of trace elements and minerals, which can promote the discharge of lochia and prevent urinary incontinence. However, drinking too much will cause new mothers to sweat more and lose salt in the body. Therefore, it is not advisable to drink it for too long, and no more than 10 days at most.

3. Do not take too many nutritional supplements

Some people think that the process of pregnancy and childbirth takes a lot of toxins out of women, and they need to take more health supplements to replenish their energy. This idea is wrong. During the confinement period, you should mainly eat natural green food, and try to eat less or no artificial supplements. You can also choose to take some mother's milk powder, multivitamins or calcium tablets designed specifically for pregnant women, because mothers during the confinement period, especially those who are breastfeeding, need to supplement more calcium, iron, vitamins and minerals.

4. Drink more warm boiled water and avoid cold drinks.

Beverages and alcoholic beverages are not suitable for new mothers during the confinement period. They should drink more warm boiled water to replenish the water lost in the body during sweating. Do not drink ice water or consume a lot of cold drinks just because the weather is hot or you are afraid of sweating.

5. Ensure the intake of calcium and iron supplements.

Because new mothers lose a lot of calcium and iron during pregnancy and delivery, they should ensure that they get enough calcium and iron from food every day. The daily calcium intake should be no less than 1.1 grams and iron should be 20 milligrams. Foods rich in calcium include bone soup, kelp, milk, sesame, etc. Foods rich in iron include fungus, animal offal, etc.

Precautions for using air conditioning during confinement

1. When turning on the air conditioner during the confinement period, be careful not to let the air from the air conditioner blow directly towards the mother, as this may cause her to catch a cold.

2. If you are a new mother who has just returned from outside, you should not turn on the air conditioner immediately. It is very hot outside and your pores are open. If you suddenly enter a very cold environment, your pores will shrink. This will easily cause you to catch a cold!

3. During the confinement period, you should also pay attention to the ventilation of the room. It is not advisable to turn on the air conditioner all day. You should avoid postpartum heat stroke such as high fever due to excessive indoor temperature and humidity.

4. The mother’s bed should not face the air conditioner, and the room should be well ventilated and south-facing.

5. If you want to use air conditioning during confinement, you should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and it is best to wear a pair of socks to prevent the cold air from entering through your feet!