Post partum doula for Chinese "yue.zi"?

[Anonymous]

I have been searching for weeks to no avail, so I thought I would ask here. I am Chinese and in my culture, there is a period after childbirth called "yue zi." Special foods and restrictions for recovery, etc. I am set to deliver my first this summer and have had no luck finding someone who can assist. I need help cooking and cleaning and just generally being around the house. Has anyone heard of this or know where I can find this? Where I from, there are special services that take care of this for you, but I am having no luck here looking myself. My family wants me to go back to china to have the baby, which for obvious reasons I am not going to do!

[Anonymous]

I know of this practice but don't know anyone who can help.
I wonder if someone from your family/friends in China could come and help you here?

[Anonymous]

Try a post-partum doula, or hire a mother's helper for a month. Will be more expensive than in China!

[Anonymous]

i've heard that there are places in NYC where you can stay and recover. MY SIL posted on a Korean website last time for people we could have come over and help us out and she sent me their phone numbers. The one lady who helped us out for a few weeks after our first child's birth only spoke Korean. Have you tried something like that? My guess is that many of the people who do that kind of work would probably only speak Chinese?

[Anonymous]

This sounds ridiculous, and I apologize in advance....but!! My insurance has a feature that u can look up doctors by what language they speak. Maybe try (and its a longshot!!) typing in Cantonese or mandarin as the language, and then call the OBs who speak Cantonese/mandarin. Since they work in that field, maybe they would have made those kindof connections over the years? Just a thought? I hope you find someone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i've heard that there are places in NYC where you can stay and recover. MY SIL posted on a Korean website last time for people we could have come over and help us out and she sent me their phone numbers. The one lady who helped us out for a few weeks after our first child's birth only spoke Korean. Have you tried something like that? My guess is that many of the people who do that kind of work would probably only speak Chinese?

I've seen articles about this as well. Why not put an ad in a Chinese language newspaper?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions! My mother has a friend out here, so she is going to ask around. I would like someone who can help wth the cooking especially. Have considered just asking at my local Chinese restaurant who they may recommend. I know in Ny and LA they have places you can stay and recover, but I'm sure you can understand that I want to deliver here with my doctors and be at home.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. I have heard about what you mention (though have no experience or contacts to mention). Just wondering, and you must have considered it, do you have friends in the US who also used those services? I'm aware of other Chinese families who did have a family member (or two) come to the US to help out, but in other cases, if you're involved with the Chinese community (e.g., community centers, any similar forums like this one), maybe those on there have recommendations?

[Anonymous]

there was an article about this in the new york times a few years ago. maybe you could contact the NY institutions featured in the article to get a referral?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/nyregion/bringing-an-asian-tradition-for-new-mothers-to-new-york.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[Anonymous]

A Chinese friend has used a service to get this kind of help. Let me ask her for the contact info. She was happy with the woman who came to help her.

[Anonymous]

Ah...I miss the ginger vinegar pork knuckle. The "make-the-milk-flow" fish soup... yum.

[Anonymous]

I am a Caucasian who has adopted a little girl from China and I just wanted to say thanks and I find this information interesting. I had never heard of this before. We subscribe to this newspaper which is aimed at Asians in the DC area, highlights Asian events around town, etc etc. OF course, right now, the name is completely escaping me, but if you know what I am talking about, maybe you could put an ad in the back of it in the classified section? (Maybe it is called Asian Fortune? (?))

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Chinese friend has used a service to get this kind of help. Let me ask her for the contact info. She was happy with the woman who came to help her.

oP here - this would be fantastic. I do not have family who can come help and my mother has offered to fly someone in to help for the month. But, we would have to board her and of course, we have limited space and I doubt my husband will be altogether happy with a stranger from china living in his home! I am considering an ad in the paper, but I haven't quite gotten there yet. Thanks and please pass along the info if you can.

[novamom]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Chinese friend has used a service to get this kind of help. Let me ask her for the contact info. She was happy with the woman who came to help her.

oP here - this would be fantastic. I do not have family who can come help and my mother has offered to fly someone in to help for the month. But, we would have to board her and of course, we have limited space and I doubt my husband will be altogether happy with a stranger from china living in his home! I am considering an ad in the paper, but I haven't quite gotten there yet. Thanks and please pass along the info if you can.

I have the information on the service my friend used. Send me a private message and I'll pass along the info. I will note that the service is based in CA and the 1 month nanny does stay with you. But it's totally worth while. Having help when the baby comes home makes the adjustment so much better. And having someone experienced in the home who is cooking and taking care of you and the baby is even better.

[Anonymous]

Embassy cultural liaison?