5 Postpartum Practices American Women Should Learn From The Happy, Hot Women Of Brazil

Newborn babies are a lot of work. They require round-the-clock feedings, they don’t sleep on a schedule, you’re awake when they’re awake, and they cry a lot even when there’s nothing wrong. It’s enough to stress anyone out, especially if you don’t have a support system to lean on. 

In the U.S., moms are expected to bounce back quickly while also taking on the brunt of new responsibilities. Most new moms cook, clean, and often have to return to work with limited maternity leave (if any). They are also expected to host family and friends at their homes or travel to introduce their new baby to loved ones within weeks, if not days, upon leaving the hospital. For many, this kind of setup leads to resentment, limited time for self-care, postpartum depression, and potential relationship issues. 

There’s nothing wrong with being in a more traditional household where the woman cooks and cleans while the man takes care of outdoor and manual labor-related chores. There’s a time and place for gender roles, but it’s different when the woman is postpartum and you have a brand new baby at home. Postpartum women need to be resting, not “doing it all.”

In Latin American cultures like Brazil, however, they see postpartum completely differently. Brazilian moms often embrace a tradition known as la cuarentena, which literally translates to “the quarantine.” La cuarentena refers to the first 40 days after having a baby, which is a time for a new mom to rest, recover, and bond with her new baby while the other women in the community pitch in to support her. 

During la cuarentena, new moms do not leave the house at all, they don’t have sex with their partners, they don’t cook, and they don’t clean. Their time is spent resting, healing, and focused totally on their new child. So much of la cuarentena revolves around having a strong support system, whether it’s family or friends. 

At this point, you might be thinking, "must be nice!" Of course, this type of set-up might not be possible for every new mom depending on her situation – maybe you live really far from family, have a strained relationship with them, or can’t take much time off work – here are a few la cuarentena-style postpartum practices to incorporate to make your postpartum journey as low-stress as possible. 

Prioritize Rest

La cuarentena is all about recovery, which is the number one thing women should be focused on during their postpartum journey, outside of caring for their new baby. That means no strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or straining yourself. In la cuarentena, new mothers nap constantly while female relatives like their mothers or sisters take care of the baby. This allows the new mom to get back on her feet more quickly because she’s giving her body ample time to rest and recover. 

La cuarentena might translate to “the quarantine,” but that doesn’t mean you have to literally quarantine yourself in your room, which you probably wouldn’t want to do even if you could. While it might be difficult due to round-the-clock feedings for your new baby, try to prioritize rest as much as you can. 

While in some families it might be expected of you to travel to them or to host them in your home to visit with the new baby, if you don't feel comfortable doing that, speak up. You can use the worry of sickness as an excuse or just be straightforward and tell them you'd like to spend some time bonding on your own with baby before anything else. It is perfectly understandable to want to cozy up at home with your new baby, just you and your husband, for at least a few days after returning from the hospital. Don't feel the rush to hop onto your phone and reply to every text you've received, FaceTime extended family or friends, or update your social media. You will never get this precious short window of time with your newborn back, so soak it up, be present, and take things slow.

If you feel comfortable opening up your home after a few days, have your mother or sister or cousin or even a close friend stay with you for a bit so you can get some help with the baby and have time to rest. Remember though, you aren't expected to act as a "host" for these visitors during this special time, so don't stress about keeping everyone fed, comfortable, and entertained. If they are there to help you, let them reverse the roles here. Traditional la cuarentena assumes that the husband will be away working during the day, but if your husband can work from home or take paternity leave, he can help out as well. 

Set up a Meal Train

You know what one of the number one things that new moms don’t want to do? Cook. Meal planning can be tedious and cooking is laborious, especially when you have a newborn baby clinging to you. In Brazilian culture, this is where the women in the community step in to help out and provide meals for the new mother throughout la cuarentena so she doesn’t have to cook at all. 

If you can’t get someone to stay with you and help with cooking, try setting up a meal train where friends and family in the area can provide a different meal each night. Websites like MealTrain.com make this process super simple, and people can be part of the meal train even if they don’t live in your area by opting to give a gift card for a food delivery service like Uber Eats or DoorDash. 

Having friends and family step in to help with meals not only takes the burden of cooking off a new mother, but it also makes her feel supported by her community. 

Focus on Proper Nutrition

Postpartum nutrition is important, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can burn an extra 500 calories per day, which can leave new moms feeling ravenous and dehydrated. This is why, in many Latin American cultures, it’s traditional to drink lots of herbal teas and eat soups that are brothy and easily digestible. In addition to making you hungry, breastfeeding also makes you thirsty, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.

It might be tempting to opt for fast food or junk food because they’re convenient options, but try to focus on fueling your body with nutrient-dense foods that will not only provide you with ample energy, but also help your body heal and recover from childbirth. 

You’ll want to focus on foods that are rich in nutrients like protein, iron, and fiber to ensure you’re getting everything you need. In the spirit of la cuarentena, soup made with bone broth is a great option because it provides protein and collagen, it’s warming and hydrating, it’s easily digestible, and it can be batch-cooked so you have meals for days. 

Get Some Help around the House

In addition to cooking, another chore that new moms do not want to do is housework. With new babies spitting up on towels and shirts, dirty diapers piling up in the trash, and dishes building up in the sink, there is plenty to be done around the house. If you can, find someone else to take over those duties.

In la cuarentena, this is another task that female relatives and community members would take over for a new mother. If your husband is able to take some time off work for paternity leave, this is a great task to delegate to him. If you have the means to hire a maid to come every few days, that’s another great option. Or, a friend could give you a gift card to a prepaid maid service as a baby shower or postpartum present. 

Find a Support System

The core principle of la cuarentena is that of community. Having a baby is exciting and wonderful, but the postpartum period often leaves new mothers feeling lonely, which can lead to postpartum depression. The real way that la cuarentena combats that isn’t actually through the food or the rest or the household chores that are a part of the tradition, but through the support system it provides. 

No matter what your postpartum journey looks like (and every woman’s looks a little different), make sure it includes some kind of community, beyond just your husband. This could be friends, family, co-workers, or maybe a group of expecting mothers you met in a Lamaze class or on Facebook. It’s important to have a community you can lean on during this precious time, which will make it easier to adjust to this exciting new chapter in your life.

Closing Thoughts

New moms will want to make sure they’re getting lots of rest, proper nutrition, good hydration, and some help around the house. The most important thing for new moms, however, is having someone to lean on, seek out for advice, and be there for them during their own, personal la cuarentena. You don’t need to quarantine yourself in your home (unless you really want to), but you do need to have people in your life to support you. 

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