An ancient Chinese tradition, the Golden Month aims to allow mother and baby to rest and be cared for after childbirth. A special time for the newborn and mother, it allows for recovery and the creation of a unique bond after what can be a challenging birth. But what exactly is the Golden Month, and why are more and more families resorting to it each year?
Taking the time to become a mom
If there's a significant upheaval in life, it's when a family expands . From being a couple, you become parents; from woman to mother. This change is felt at different times depending on your personality, ranging from the exact moment of your child's birth to a few days, weeks, or months afterward. Even when you prepare during pregnancy, the shift in reference points is such that an adaptation period is sometimes necessary.
That's why the Golden Month exists , a centuries-old practice originating in China, which helps mother and newborn to understand each other, get to know each other, and rest . The first month of a baby's life is a rather special period, very exhausting for mothers who, after enduring labor for many hours, must now juggle the arrival of a little being and their own physical recovery.
Taking place over a period of approximately 40 days after childbirth , the Golden Month represents the time needed for the mother's body to regain its energy and regenerate. This period encompasses the first six weeks of the baby's life and can have a considerable impact on the mother: the comings and goings of family members and friends visiting their child for the first time, the first difficult nights, the first breastfeeding sessions, the first diaper changes… A whole host of first times that can be stressful for the mother, who may feel lost and helpless while managing her own recovery and the health of her newborn.
Surround yourself with good people and rest with the baby.
Even if childbirth is for many women the most beautiful day of their lives, it remains a life-altering event for their bodies, which need rest to recover. However, as mentioned earlier, the first few weeks after childbirth are rarely calm and restful . Yet, it's important to allow the mother's body time to rest, where she doesn't have to worry about any heavy chores and whose only journeys will be between her bedroom and the sofa. The principle of the Golden Month is to offer the mother the opportunity to enjoy her child without thinking about anything else : no shopping, no housework, no Sunday lunch at her mother-in-law's... This requires the involvement of those around her who will take care of household tasks, family management, and everyone's activities, allowing the mother to fully enjoy her newborn.
A period of rest that her body will greatly need to repair itself, allowing time for hormones to stabilize, for morale to be positive... After all, if mom is doing well, so will her child . Resting and enjoying the first month of baby's life also helps to avoid a too brutal postpartum period , by best anticipating the hormone drop and baby blues.
Intensively living the first months of baby's life
Mothers will all tell you: your child grows up too fast, and in the blink of an eye, he or she is no longer your little baby. To fully savor these magical , but fleeting, moments, nothing is more important than dedicating your attention and energy to them. Present at every stage of your newborn's development, you will experience their first milestones more intensely.
Babies are very vulnerable during their first few months and will demand a lot of your attention, as they depend entirely on you. The more you are present for your child, the greater their progress will be. Obviously, the co-parent also has an important role to play, but the bond between a baby and its mother is a unique connection that is essential to build and maintain from birth.
Don't see the Golden Month as a hindrance to your empowerment as a woman, far from it. The goal is not to reduce you to your condition as a woman, but rather, on the contrary, to allow you, both physically and mentally, to experience the arrival of your child in the most optimal way, by creating a bubble of love and security that will only strengthen the bond between you and your newborn.
The cocoon, an essential for the Golden Month
As you will have understood, the Golden Month is essentially linked to the mother's recovery and well-being. Offering her comfort, as well as to her infant, is essential. Outside of skin-to-skin contact for cuddles, it will be important to let the baby enjoy his or her cozy little nest, where he or she can rest serenely, allowing the mother the opportunity to take care of herself.
>> Discover the size 1 swaddles (up to about 6 months)
To help your newborn enjoy long periods of sleep, it's important that he or she sleeps in a soothing environment. The cocoon achieves all these goals by guaranteeing a sleeping space designed entirely for your child's well-being.
Well surrounded by the cocoon, the baby finds itself in a defined and reassuring environment that will remind it of the sensations in mom's belly. Soothed, the baby will sleep peacefully in its cocoon, giving mom time to rest.
At Ouatine & Cumulus, our sleeping bags and swaddles are perfect for following your child's development, from birth to their transition into a "big kid bed".
