In Chinese culture, the golden month is the post-partum period where new parents are supported to rest and recover after the birth of a child. The golden month is a rite of passage—both a time of celebration and an essential window for healing and recovery for the mother, baby, and new family.

Traditionally, mothers and aunties in the extended family would stay with the new parents, preparing nutrient dense foods and herbal soups, and attending to the jobs of family life while the birthing parent rests and bonds with their new baby. 

This type of postpartum care may no longer be accessible—or even desirable—for many modern families. However there are many principles and practices of the golden month that we can incorporate into our modern post-partum to support healing, bonding and vitality. Research has shown that postpartum care can protect against postnatal depression, and that a lack of social support after birth may contribute to depression after the birth of a baby. 

With its focus on preventative health care, these Chinese medicine principles can help women avoid problems that may arise many months or even years after their baby is born. Common health problems such as exhaustion, chronic pain, low mood and poor immunity in the early years can be attributed to the loss of Qi, Blood and Essence that occurs after pregnancy and birth. By prioritising rest, nutrient dense food and herbal tonics after birth, new parents can replenish this lost energy and be set up for better health as their family grows. 

5 Postpartum Principles

1. Stay Warm

After the depletion of pregnancy and birth, your body can become vulnerable to cold invasion. The traditional rules advise against showers, washing your hair or drinking cold water in the first 40 days. This guidance came from a time before hot showers and central heating, but the general gist applies – stay warm.

When your body is weak your Qi is less able to protect you from cold and wind. Make sure your lower back and abdomen are covered. Cover your feet and neck, especially if you’re in an air conditioned hospital. 

Enjoy warm drinks and food. The energy we generate from food, our post-heaven Qi, is dependent on the strength of our digestion. Having cold meals and icy drinks can quell the digestive fire, which will already be weaker after pregnancy. Stews and slow cooked foods are ideal postpartum meals. The process of slow cooking breaks down the proteins, making it easier to digest and assimilate, and the warmth strengthens your delicate digestive system.  

2. Mother Warming

In Chinese medicine cold is contracting and stagnating in nature, and a postnatal uterus is an ideal place for it to settle if not properly protected. The traditional practice of mother warming involves the use of mugwort, a Chinese herb used to bring warmth to the body in a practice called moxibustion. Moxibustion is applied to the lower abdomen and back, to tonify the Yang qi and expel cold. Mother warming is soothing and can boost the Jing essence, boosting your energy and promoting a sense of wellbeing. 

Postpartum acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments are personalised for you, and can be used to support sleep, calm the nervous system and increase energy. Post birth, Chinese medicine is commonly used to support breastfeeding, manage mastitis and reduce pain and bleeding. Sheng Hua Tang is a herbal formula for cold and blood stasis that can be used postpartum, or after a miscarriage or termination. It is used to warm and expel cold in the uterus, and clear blood stasis.  

Mother warming and herbal medicine are not appropriate in some circumstances. A Chinese medicine practitioner will advise a treatment strategy that is right for you. 

3. Nourishing foods

Food is one of the best ways to heal and replenish your body. Eating nourishing, nutrient dense food after birth can make an enormous difference to how you feel and how you recover. 

After pregnancy, the food you eat has a number of functions. It is replenishing the nutrients and vitality you lost during pregnancy. It is a source of protein that aids in repairing damaged tissue and uterine healing. It provides the vital calories, vitamins and minerals that boost breastfeeding milk supply. And from a Chinese medicine perspective, the food you eat postpartum provides warmth, driving out cold and ensuring the smooth flow of your Qi and Blood. 

Soups, bone broths and stews are one way to ensure you’re getting everything you need from your postpartum diet. Warm, well cooked foods are gentler on the digestion and provide nutrients that are easy to absorb. 

Chicken broth with specific Chinese herbs chosen to nourish Qi and Blood should be consumed regularly in the golden month. Beyond the first 40 days, this gentle, nourishing decoction can be taken any time you need a boost. I stock organic raw herb soup packs for this stock recipe. Send me an email for more information, or let’s discuss at your next appointment.

Chicken broth with 5 Chinese herbs

Ingredients

I chicken (free range or organic if possible). Use 2-3 chicken marylands if you can’t access a whole chicken

5 herb soup pack (Dang gui 12g, Huang qi 15g, Dang shen 12g, Da zao 32g, Gou qi zi 15g)

A few slices of fresh ginger

Method

Put the chicken in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add the herbs and sliced ginger. Bring to the boil, then reduce to simmer over a low heat for 1 1/2 hours with the lid off. Strain the stock, discarding the chicken and herbs. Drink 1 warm bowl daily. The broth can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.

4. Rest

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop” Ovid

The term “lying in” is also used to describe traditional postpartum practices, and perhaps best captures the essence of this time after birth. Rest should be a non-negotiable part of postpartum care, yet it is often the most difficult element for modern parents to prioritise. 

Most new parents feel enormous pressure to welcome visitors, establish routines and get on top of everything. And a lot of this comes at the expense of rest. Prioritising rest is an acknowledgement of the enormous energy expended in pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. And a lack of rest can have serious future health consequences. In pregnancy and birth, levels of stress hormones rise significantly. Without adequate rest, those levels don’t equalise. This can leave you “tired and wired”, chronically stressed and running on empty. 

Allowing yourself to rest deeply in the postpartum period will set you up for future good health. Rest is how the body rebuilds Qi, nourishing vitality that is essential in the weeks, months and years in your life as a parent. 

5. Build your Support Network

Prioritising rest and self care is easier when you have a supportive network of people around you to help out. Many new parents don’t have family living nearby, or maybe you do but you don’t necessarily want them at close quarters. When building your support network, You have the freedom to choose people you trust and feel comfortable around at this vulnerable time. 

Friends and family are wonderful supports, but consider including professionals in your village too. A lactation consultant, doula, and maternal child health nurse and your Chinese medicine practitioner can all be sources of support, advice and compassion. Consider engaging a house cleaner, dog walker or food delivery service if you need extra help with household jobs. 

Honouring the Fourth Trimester 

The fourth trimester is a sacred window of healing—one that deserves time, care, and support. Whether you’re embracing every aspect of traditional golden month care or simply borrowing a few nourishing ideas, honouring this time can help protect your long-term health and support your transition into parenthood. Postpartum recovery isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about building a strong foundation for the years ahead, one bowl of soup, one moment of rest, and one act of support at a time.