Food for new mothers

I asked my husband's relatives about confinement traditions in the northern regions, and I found them a lot simpler, even Spartan.

Millet porridge is a must, because northerners believe it is easily digested and good for new mothers.

Eggs are eaten often, hard-boiled, scrambled or dropped into soup.

Brown sugar is dissolved in water, and this is fed to the new mothers. Sometimes, the syrup is served with a poached egg in it.

For mothers who have difficulty nursing, little river carps are deep-fried then boiled to produce a milky broth. This is believed to help the mammary glands produce more milk.

Large pork bones or pig trotters are also made into soup to help supplement collagen and calcium.

Generally, the rule is to keep mother and child warm, and well-fed. I would think in these days when all sorts of ingredients are widely available, the main point is to cook and eat with an eye on balanced nutrition.