Korean Job Discussion Forums

[edoras]

We have a baby on the way and my wife says that Korean (and generally SE asian) mums are not allowed to wash their body for about a month after delivery. Apparently, if they do, they can have some kind of health problems later in life. I asked why but she said something to the effect "thats just what we do".

Wondering if anyone has heard of this.

[Thunndarr]

Yes, that's what they do. Ick.

[Corporal]

Nonsense that they are not "allowed to." Sure you may have a few flustered nurses saying that you aren't strong enough yet and must wait a while before washing. And probably many Korean women don't wash right away afterwards (due to it being discouraged), same as the staying in a hot room or not taking the baby out, but no one is going to tie you to the bed and refuse to let you get cleaned up.

If your wife wants to do things the sanitary way, then all she has to do is put her foot down. If she agrees with the not washing part, then you're probably not going to change her mind on it.

[Bulsajo]

My wife says the no washing part includes no brushing of teeth. I guess that's one of the reasons why a wopman goes back to her parents' home the first month after childbirth.

My wife agrees that it may possibly be superstitious tradition, but she plans on following it 'just in case'.

[Privateer]

Interesting. I heard of something similar when a friend of mine married a woman from the Ivory Coast, only for her it had to be 3 months without washing. She got pretty rank.

People used to have this thing in the west too that washing 'saps your strength', so maybe there's a similar belief at work here. It doesn't apply in mogyoktangs of course but then who says superstitions are rational?

[periwinkle]

Funny, because our culture is opposite. Women are recommended to take sitz baths. I wonder what Korean doctors say. Not washing for a month sounds pretty unsanitary to me.

[Hobophobic]

Yes, my wife followed this as well...

I was informed by her and her sisters that it would cause problems in the distant future healthwise for her bones and some holes will develop, and cause great pains and illnesses, and make her later years unbearable.... and she might spontaneous combust if she didn't succumb to fan death or hideous cancer from eating burnt food, and so on and so forth...

Also nothing but stinky seaweed soup...no cold water for drinking, and not going outside for any reason during the duration of this most vulnerable time....

Anyway, don't muck about...let her do what it is she must do... if that means get stinky - so be it, and be sure to just nod and answer very nicely "NAE NAE" to each and everything she says.......really...no joke...

...my wife stayed at her sister's place for 5 weeks, so I only had to smell her on the weekends

Oh...and you will have to do absolutely everything ...no matter what, for say 3 months after....

...of course it is worth it all once the kid is there...

good luck

[periwinkle]

[ChristyMum]

Hobophobic,
Wow, your bb is soooooo cute!!!~



This is asia's belief. This is from the old days as at that time, living condition is not good and women are normally weak after delivery. That's why they easily get sick if they wash their bodies. And according to herbal medical concept, "wind" will go into their body if they go to shower.

However, this has already out-dated in this modern centuries. Many people concerned about personel hygiene instead. But still, people usually use ginger skin water to wash body after the first month of delivery. This can avoid that kind of "wind" go into bodies.

Anyway, I know some people still keep the rule of not washing for the first month. I think this is not surprise at all that many Korea female still keep this rule as Koreans are always conservative

[xtchr]

I think maybe I'm going to have to stop visiting this website, some of the stuff I find out here, - well, I'd rather not know (ignorance is bliss?)....women who don't wash, pigs that eat shit, etc. That's just revolting.


Welcome to the 21st century in the Hub of Asia!

[Hobophobic]

The wife and inlaws all generally claimed the body has gone through a great ordeal...of course....and that the mother needs to retain any strength she possibly can...Christymum summed it up nicely...the traditions still ring true alot....

....yes I had to do the things you mentioned Periwinkle....but like I said...when the baby comes it's all good...and of course being a momma's boy it wasn't that challenging

...usually the woman's mother/relatives take care of her....cook and clean, and assist with the baby for a month or so...I picked up the slack on the weekends and after her five week stay at her sister's was done.

Besides, it is just what parents must do....

[betchay]

i've heard about this from my korean sisters-in-law... they said that a woman who had just given birth shouldn't take a shower for three weeks...

i'm filipina and i take a shower everyday (even in winter) and i just couldn't imagine myself not washing even for just a day, specially in the summer when i'm scheduled to give birth...

[jazblanc77]

I have a baby on the way and I am dreading the period after the delivery. I just don't believe in following something because of a belief/superstition/custom tells them to, especially when it comes to health. I don't mind if her mother comes and takes care of her for a couple of weeks, but this whole no bathing thing, only seaweed soup, no strangers in the house, and no going outside for the baby and mother is just too much for me. I don't mind if my wife does some things for a while, but she should start going outside, eating properly, and carrying on with life whenever she feels strong enough again, not for a set period of 20 days which is just arbitrary, to me. I would rather see her and the baby living in sanitary conditions, eating well (supplememnting with seaweed soup, of course), resting as much as they need, and going out if they want to get some fresh air, sunlight, and away from the cabin fever.

My wife has mentionned that she would like to go live with her parents (in another city), for a month and a half or so, and I am quite against that. I don't see any reason for it and I want to see my new baby during the first period of HER (fingers crossed!), life. I already know this is going to be a big bone of contention and we will eventually have a big fight over it. My wife is a big mommas girl who always says "yes", and her mother is very traditional, so I just know that she is going to do all of the irrational, yet traditional, things that a good Korean is supposed to do.

What to do?!

[Hobophobic]

Well the bathing thing is generally a few days...the outside and stranger visits and so forth is a few weeks....

...I hear you on the part about being away from the baby...it was hard for me to only see the little guy on the weekends, but I knew my wife was in good hands with her family, granted it was only the other side of Seoul...

Jazblanc don't fret too much...it seems like a long time, and it will be hard on both of your nerves - I think you have a good idea with her mom coming to stay with her...just try to stay calm and collected....and best of luck.

[Gardimus]

My mom washed after I was born, and now I'm teaching in Korea. Maybe it is best to be on the safe side and not wash.