Chinese zuo yuezi (sitting in for the first month of the postnatal period) in Scotland

Objective: to examine how Chinese women experience postnatal care in a Scottish setting, their beliefs, needs and experience, and why any differences exist. The aim is to bring the knowledge forward and to improve these women's childbearing experience. Design: a qualitative comparative approach. Setting: maternity units in Scotland. Participants: ten Chinese and ten Scottish women, ten health workers, five relatives, five Chinese women's friends, and five Scottish women's friends, plus two group discussions of four and six Chinese discussants, and one group discussion with four Scottish mothers and a health worker. Method: four stage semi-structured interviews with the two comparison groups of ten Chinese and ten Scottish women, and non-structured interviews/talks/discussions with ten health workers, ten women, five relatives and ten friends Findings: zuo yuezi is a popular integrated set of postnatal practices for Chinese mothers, not only in China, but also in Scotland, in their convalescence after giving birth. This traditional postnatal behaviour is embedded in culture. It is used to facilitate the physical recovery of the mothers, to prevent chronic illness, and also to strengthen their intra-family relationships. Conclusion: zuo yuezi serves as a physical convalescence, a preventative measure, a social sanction to rest, a consolation, and a prompt for Chinese women to concentrate on their baby and their role of breast feeding, as well as an occasion to strengthen the intra-family tie, especially between the woman and her own mother or mother-in-law. This practice has a direct bearing upon the psychological well-being of Chinese women postnatally and in their future life. This suggests that these puerperal practices and the custom deserve the cognitive recognition of midwives, so that they can be aware of and respect the indigenous beliefs and practices that link the events of childbearing, the health status of women, and family relationships in order to provide better maternity care for this group of women.