Let’s talk about it: what our abuelas knew, what science says today, and how to keep the heart of la cuarentena even if your family is far away.
What la cuarentena is
La cuarentena is the 40 days after birth, a time of rest and protection for the new mother. You’ll find versions of it all over Latin America, and in many cultures around the world. Every family keeps it a little differently, but the common threads are:
Rest. Stay home, stay in bed as much as you can, don’t lift anything heavier than the baby.
Warmth. Warm food, warm drinks, warm feet. Many families avoid cold foods, cold water and drafts.
Nourishment. Caldo de pollo, atole, avena, té de canela. Food that is soft, warm and easy to digest.
Binding. A faja or rebozo wrapped around the belly and hips, and in some families a cerrada de cadera, a rebozo ceremony to “close” the body after birth.
Being cared for. The women of the family cook, clean and hold the baby. The new mother is the one being mothered.
[Add one memory: who cared for the women in your family after birth? What did they cook?]
What science says now
Here’s the thing that surprises people: modern medicine has caught up with a lot of what our abuelas knew.
Six weeks is real. It takes about six weeks for the uterus to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size. The place where the placenta was attached is a wound inside the body, and it takes weeks to heal. Bleeding (lochia) often lasts that long too. Forty days isn’t a superstition. It’s a pretty good estimate of how long the body needs.
Recovery takes even longer than that. The pelvic floor, the abdominal muscles, sleep, hormones: many of these take months to settle, not weeks. In 2018, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that postpartum care be an ongoing process rather than a single check-up at six weeks, and called this time the “fourth trimester.”
Support protects your mental health. In 2019, nearly 1 in 4 mothers in Canada (23%) reported feelings consistent with postpartum depression or an anxiety disorder. [2] One of the strongest protective factors is good support: people who feed you, help with the baby and let you rest. That’s la cuarentena in one sentence.
Warm, nourishing food helps you heal. Bone broths, beans, eggs, oats and greens give your body protein, iron and fluids, which is exactly what it needs after blood loss and while feeding a baby.
Where we can update the tradition
Not every piece of la cuarentena holds up, and that’s okay. Traditions grow. A few gentle updates:
Drink your water, cold or warm. Staying hydrated matters, especially if you’re breastfeeding. If warm drinks feel better to you, enjoy them, but don’t skip water because it’s cold.
Showering is safe. Some families avoid washing your hair or bathing for weeks. A warm shower helps keep stitches and tears clean and can feel wonderful for your nervous system. Stay warm afterwards if that comforts you.
Bind gently. A light faja or rebozo can feel supportive and comforting. Very tight binding can push pressure down onto a healing pelvic floor. If you want to bind, keep it snug, not tight, and ask your midwife, doctor or a pelvic floor physiotherapist if you have questions.
Move a little. Rest is the priority, but short walks around the house and gentle breathing help circulation and recovery. Listen to your body.
Watch for warning signs. Rest is not a reason to stay quiet about heavy bleeding, fever, a painful red breast, or feeling hopeless. Call your midwife or doctor.
Keeping la cuarentena when your family is far away
This is the part I care about most. Many of us are raising our babies far from our mamás and tías. The tradition assumes a village, and a lot of us don’t have one nearby.
You can still build one:
Fill your freezer before the birth. Make a big batch of caldo, frijoles and atole mix. Your future self will thank you.
Give people real jobs. “Can you bring dinner on Tuesday?” works better than “Let me know if you need anything.”
Ask your partner to be the gatekeeper. Visitors can come, but they bring food, they wash their hands, and they leave when you’re tired.
Bring the family in by video. Let your abuela walk your partner through her caldo recipe over FaceTime.
Hire the help your family would have given. This is what a postpartum doula does. I offer this support, in which I can hold the baby while you shower or nap, I help with feeding, and I make sure you are being cared for too.
Your body deserves forty days
La cuarentena was never about rules. It was about a simple belief: a woman who has just given birth deserves to be held. Our abuelas knew it, and science agrees.
If you’re planning your own cuarentena, in Muskoka or anywhere, I’d love to help. My packages brings postpartum care, bring rest into your home, the way our families did it. You’re also always welcome at Mother Circle, where we sit together and talk about the real, messy, tender weeks after birth.
Hecho con cariño, Natalia
This post is for general information and doesn't replace advice from your midwife, doctor or the hospital. Hospital policies can change, so always check with MAHC and your care provider for the latest.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care (2018). Plain-language summary: DONA International.
Statistics Canada. Maternal Mental Health in Canada, 2018/2019.
Resources
Book: Thriving Postpartum: Embracing the Indigenous Wisdom of La Cuarentena by Pānquetzani (Sounds True)
Book: The First 40 Days by Heng Ou, a postpartum food and rest guide rooted in Chinese tradition
Postpartum Support International, free support in English and Spanish: postpartum.net · HelpLine 1-800-944-4773
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit: Perinatal mental health help and support
In crisis? Call or text 988, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, 24/7.
