"Doing the month": Postpartum practices in Chinese women

This review describes the traditional ancient Chinese postpartum practice of "doing the month" or "zuoyuezi", the evidence for specific practices, maternal adherence to practices, and their effect upon the maternal postpartum physical and psychological health. A comprehensive search yielded 38 English or Chinese publications about common practices, adherence to practices, and their effects upon Chinese women's physical and psychological health. Doing the month involves a series of practices related to the maternal role, physical activity, maintenance of body warmth, and food consumption that are believed to restore maternal postpartum health and prevent future disease. Strengths of these practices include acknowledgment of the woman's societal and familial contribution to childbearing and the provision of consistent family support. There is concern for the effect of some practices upon both maternal physical and psychological health, particularly for postpartum depression. Current evidence about the effects of doing-the-month practices upon maternal health needs to be integrated into the traditional practices of doing the month to improve maternal health.