Meghan Markle could go into a 30-day ‘hibernation’ to adopt Chinese practice of postnatal confinement
MEGHAN Markle is considering adopting the ancient Chinese practice of “postnatal confinement” after the birth of her baby.
The Duchess of Sussex was sent a book called The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by her mum Doria.
The £12.99 tome, by so-called “supermum” Heng Ou, suggests a a 30 day hibernation period.
It recommends banning visitors, social media and socialising in the month after birth, and instead focusing on bonding with the baby, self-care and daily meditation.
Meg is not scheduled any royal engagements before October so she’s got time to switch off from official duties and bond with Archie.
A source said: “Doria has been speaking to Meghan constantly throughout her pregnancy, and couldn’t have been more supportive.
“She was recommended this book, read it, and then sent it to Meghan who said it had become her ‘bible’ – she wants to adopt the key principles in as much as her royal status allows.
“Obviously she cannot shut herself off completely from the outside world but she and Prince Harry are in agreement that her visitors in the first two weeks will be family members only.
“Meghan is a deeply spiritual woman, and wants to use this precious time to fully bond with her child.”
TIME TO SWITCH OFF
Confinement – or “zuo yuesi” – is common across Asia, and in China there are special hospitals where mothers stay confined for a month – sometimes only seeing their babies once a day.
Chinese medicine asserts that women who have just given birth are more susceptible to cold air, and becoming ill as a result.
Traditionally, women are also encouraged not to shower for the first month either in order to help further connect with the baby.
Meghan is a deeply spiritual woman, and wants to use this precious time to fully bond with her child.
According to the book’s blurb, confinement “revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth.
“As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely bounce back after delivering their babies, and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this new stage of their lives, the First Forty days provide a lifeline-a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance.”
PUSHED TO BOUNCE BACK
It’s been speculated Meg will join Harry for Trooping the Colour – the Queen’s Official Birthday parade -on June 8 but no official confirmation has been given.
Her next scheduled royal engagement is between October 22 and 25 at the One Young World summit in London.
The organisation is close to her heart as she worked for them as a counsellor in 2014 long before she met Harry.
She addressed delegates at the 2014 summit in Dublin and the 2016 event in Ottawa, Canada.
Other guests at the London event, which teams up with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, include former Irish President Mary Robinson, Live Aid supremo Bob Geldof and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway also support the organisation, which brings together 10,000 aspirational young men and women from all over the world to exchange ideas and causes.
The Royals traditionally take two months off in the summer when the Queen stays at Balmoral in Scotland and Buckingham Palace is opened to the public.
But there are also plans to visit Canada and the USA.
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“As Commonwealth ambassadors the Queen will want them to visit as many Commonwealth countries as soon as they can” said a Palace source.
“Canada is very important but while in North America it would be logical to visit the USA, which is not only Meghan’s country but also where the couple are the biggest stars.
“The interest there will be off the scale!”
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