FAQ

Q: What is confinement? 

A: After the birth of a child, a woman’s body struggles to return to its pre-pregnancy state. This recovery period is called the confinement period, in Malay it is called "pantang".The confinement period should be a minimum of 30 - 44 days and during this period, the new mom shall pay special attention in the area of clothing, food, living environment and physical exercise.As important as taking care of a newborn, pamper yourself during the confinement period is essential and should not be overlooked because it is going to affect our health in the long run. Some effects might not be visible now but later in life, the effects will start haunting us especially after menopause, if not earlier. 

Q: Bengkung is very essential for women after childbirth as it will help you to get back in good shape especially on tummy and hip. It is more widely used among Malays but nowadays, more and more women realized the importance of taking good care of their body after childbirth and hence the use of bengkung is becoming common for all other races too. Is it necessary to wear bengkung? 

A: Yes. *Using bengkung after delivery of baby will help to prevent “wind” from entering our body and keep us warm. Besides, It also helps to hold our body in good shape and correct posture (you’ll walk & sit straight after wearing the bengkung) 

Q: What is the feature of a good bengkung? 

A: A good bengkung would have long diameter to cover from under chest all the way down to below the hip, this will ensure a strong support to our womb and it’s really important. *If a bengkung is too short, it will not stay firm when we move around, this will put pressure on to our womb and will also affect the overall shape of our body. In other words, wearing a wrong bengkung is worse than not wearing one. 

Q: How long do we need to wear bengkung during confinement? 

A: It is advisable to start wearing it 4 days after normal delivery up to whenever you like. It’s best if you could wear it all day long, even during sleeping hours. Therefore, it is better to have at least 2 sets of bengkung so that you could wash and change every other day. Bear in mind that you’ll sweat a lot during confinement and hygiene is very important so that it won’t cause any skin irritation 

Q: Can I wear bengkung if I deliver by C-section? 

A: Please consult your gynae before you start wearing any bengkung, normally it’ll be at least 2 weeks after delivery or longer, depending on individual condition. 

Q: How could wear bengkung help me? 

A: Wearing the right bengkung correctly can help to reshape your body faster and more efficiently. It could also hold you up in the correct posture by supporting your back bone, (especially for breastfeeding mums who always tend to sit and bend their back while breastfeeding the baby) and hence can prevent/minimize back pain. Wearing bengkung also helps to tone up your abdominal muscles and shape up your hip after childbirth. 

Q: Is bengkung only made for women after childbirth? 

A: No. Anybody who wishes to shape up their body will find bengkung very useful, even male.Is it necessary to apply any lotion before wearing bengkung? It is not necessary but using bengkung after applying slimming lotion/cream/gel will helps to expedite the absorption into your skin.* Some of the statements here were excerpts from “Ensiklopedia Perbidanan Melayu-Sebuah Perbendaharaan Ilmu Perubatan dan Penjagaan Kesihatan" written by Datin Sharifah Anisah BarakbahMust eat a lot of ginger in every meal, everyday. 

Q: Is ginger is advisable to eat? 

A: By adding ginger or pepper to the dishes we eat can help to expel wind and keep our body warm. It is not a must though, especially for breastfeeding mums, avoid too much of ginger intake as it will make the baby heaty. 

Q: No vegetables & fruits as these are "cold" food..? 

A: Not really. Vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, kai lan, lady finger can be consumed even in the first 2 weeks. Thereafter we can eat the leafy vegetables like spinach, bo choy, just make sure these vegetables are cooked with some ginger then it'd be fine to eat. Well fruits like mango & melon of course should be avoided but apples, plums and papaya are fine. 

Q: A lot of people experiences constipation during confinement because too much of ginger & wine intake, and didn't drink enough soup/water/red dates drink, plus not taking any vegetables and fruits actually make the condition worst. Cannot carry heavy objects (including the baby), over-exert self or walk up and down the stairs? 

A: This is somewhat true. Avoid walking up and down the stairs too much because it might affect the healing of our wounds (those who went through episiotomy during normal delivery, & those went through c-section). Lifting heavy objects or inappropriate exercise could put pressure on our womb. However, I do carry my baby very often for breastfeeding, just have to be careful not to bend over too much to lift the baby so that we don't sprain our back. Wearing bengkung in this case help to hold us in correct posture and prevent back pain. 

Q: Avoid squatting otherwise your womb will drop. 

A: I think this is true; anyway I don't squat during my confinement. Urut will also help to lift up our womb. 

Q: We must sit down when we drink otherwise we will have difficulties in holding our urine afterwards. 

A: I have heard this from my confinement lady but at times I still forgot to do so. Actually the reasons of urinary incontinence are a lot, the one that relates to childbirth is that our pelvic muscles have become weaker after delivery. By doing the right exercise or Kegel exercise would help to strengthen the pelvic muscle. 

Q: Cannot be directly exposed to wind? 

A: I would wear T-shirt with sleeves and sarong/long pants, socks & slippers all the time. I sleep in the air-cond room and it is fine, I think the rule of thumb is, do not face the fan & air-cond directly. I also apply Bio Trim lotion every time after bath as it would help to "close" my pores and keep me warm. The lotion also helps to expel "wind" from the body. 

Q: Must lie on the bed and rest more? Cannot watch TV/reading/use PC? 

A: It is advisable to take more rest to restore our energy, because we need to wake up often during mid night to feed / take care of the newborn. However, watching TV, reading or use PC is fine as long we don't do it for long (say about 15 minutes at a time) and take a break in between before continuing, so that the eyes are well rested. 

Q: Cannot bath during confinement? 

A: Quick bathing with warm water (or herbal bath) everyday is actually good to us as we sweat a lot during confinement. Hygiene is extremely important and bathing will freshen up & make us feel more energetic. It is also advice to take bath during mid day when the weather is hot. 

Q: Cannot wash hair during confinement? 

A: Advisable not to wash hair for 10 to 12 days. However dry shampoo is recommended to minimize scalp irritation and absorb excess oil from the hair. Personally I didn't quite like dry shampoo. I 1st wash my hair on the 12th day, and thereafter I wash every 3-4 days and I'll blow it dry immediately. 

Q: How can a Confinement Lady (CL) help me during my confinement? 

A: The Confinement Lady (CL) will take care of you and the baby so that you can have complete good rest. The CL is different from a maid as they are experienced in confinement service, cooking confinement meals, newborn baby care and able to highlight to you on the do's and don'ts on confinement cares as and when necessary. A CL is essential so you need not trouble your elderly parents or parents-in-law frequently wake up at nights taking care of your baby. 

Q: What types of food will the Confinement Lady (CL) prepare during my confinement period? 

A: The CL will prepare variety of confinement meals so you will have no worries about eating the similar food throughout. The CL will prepare meals to help increase breast milk production, meals to rebuild body strength, to improve appetite and to help accelerate the healing process. 

Q: What is your mode of payment? 

A: We accept cash. 

Q: How do I book? 

A: Please call us at 016- 6063600 for advance booking.