Comprehensive postpartum care: an expert view from the panel Confinement, Then and Now

The opening-day panel

On the morning of 5 October 2026, Casa de Mother opened at Sedona Suites Hotel, 67 Le Loi, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. After the ribbon cutting, the programme continued with a panel on comprehensive postpartum care in the 4.0 era, joined by medical experts and Casa's partners Vitalia, Nancy, DripCare and the IPRTA Institute of Psychology.

The theme was “confinement, then and now”. Starting from the familiar advice of grandparents, the experts discussed what every mother wonders about: how to eat to recover and make milk, how mother and baby should be checked, when to start moving again, and the emotions that follow birth. Here are the key points they shared.

What to eat to recover and make milk?

Traditional confinement got one thing right: a new mother needs warm, generous meals. What has changed is what “enough” means. Not eating a great deal at once, nor avoiding so many foods that she goes without, but eating a varied diet spread across the day.

• Eat across the food groups: starches, protein from meat, fish, eggs and pulses, and plenty of vegetables and fruit.
• Drink enough water, especially around feeds.
• Greens, fruit and well-cooked seafood are all fine; there is no need to avoid them. Avoid alcohol, and ask a doctor before taking any medicine or supplement.
• Take iron and folic acid as prescribed by a doctor, especially if anaemic after birth.

For the baby, breast milk is the best nourishment. Start breastfeeding soon after birth, feed only breast milk for the first six months, and let the baby feed on demand. A good latch helps the baby feed well and spares the mother pain.

Postnatal check-ups for mother and baby

In the first weeks after birth, mother and baby need regular check-ups, especially early on, when the mother's body is changing quickly and the baby is adjusting to the world outside. Every visit assesses both, in body and in mind.

At each visit, the obstetrician checks how the uterus is recovering, the bleeding, any stitches or caesarean wound, blood pressure and signs of anaemia. The paediatrician checks feeding, weight, jaundice, the cord and newborn screening such as hearing and eyes. It is also the moment for parents to ask anything on their minds.

When can a mother move again?

Many mothers are told to stay in bed for a month. The experts instead encourage a gradual return to activity as health allows, building towards about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, with gentle stretching and pelvic floor exercises. After a caesarean, the return is slower and should follow the doctor's advice.

Start with very small steps: deep breathing, gentle walking around the room, then a little more as the body allows. If pain increases, bleeding gets heavier or she feels dizzy, she should stop and ask a doctor.

Are the low moments after birth normal?

Mostly, yes. Many mothers feel tearful and anxious after birth, as hormones shift and sleep is broken up. The feeling usually eases within about two weeks. If it lasts or grows heavier, she needs to be heard and given professional support early.

That is why every new mother should be asked how she is and screened for postnatal depression and anxiety. Family can help more than they think: sharing the baby's care so she can sleep, asking how she feels, and going with her to see a professional when needed.

After the panel

To close the programme, guests toured the suites of Casa de Mother. The questions of that morning go on in every family, and we hope these insights help mothers welcome their babies with greater peace of mind.

Confinement, then and now, comes down to one wish: that a mother can rest fully, be heard, and not walk through the first days alone.