Best Chinese Postpartum Soup Resources
It is Chinese tradition to “sit the month”, 坐月子, or have the month-long confinement period for the mother after giving birth to a child. One of the Eastern medicine beliefs is that this is a time of healing to bring back nourishment to the mother’s body and help with the production of breastmilk. Herbal and healthy soups play an important role during this time, where consumption of these broths will nourish the body back to a stable foundation. New Chinese mothers are scolded to heed the advice or beware of future aches and pains due to the havoc caused by child-bearing and giving birth. My own mother diligently made soup for me every single day for 30 days without fail, but not everyone is so fortunate. Luckily, we found that there are sites out there who cater to this so that soups could be prepared, even in advance.
*Note, we’re not affiliated with any of these sites (other than any Amazon affiliate links).
1. Soup Queens
Ready-to-make pouches of a variety of soups for different benefits. Very convenient so that you can stock up on packs to make your own soups.
2. The Chinese Soup Lady
Site explaining the benefits and side effects of different ingredients and soups, with a whole section on confinement soups to make.
3. Jing Mommy
With Jing Mommy, you can conveniently get their delicious meal package which has 30 days of postpartum meals and take away all the guess work. You can choose between their classic or herbal package. Just freeze their meals for when you are ready for consuming. Located in California, so contact for out-of-state delivery.
4. Chen Mommy Kitchen
Delivers a 4-week menu course straight to your home for sitting the month. Each week is a well thought out meal plan to help your body recover postpartum. This is like having a remote mom cook and deliver all your food needs. Delivers locally only for New York.
5. Root + Spring
Chinese family owned online shop from Los Angeles, California with various herbal soup packages, one specifically for postpartum. We like the modern look and detailed ingredients information for the soups. The soup packages come with recipe cards.
6. EuYanSang
Shipped from Singapore, you can purchase a full package of post-natal confinement soup packs. You’ll need to plan ahead though since shipping can take between 1-2 weeks to the US.
7. Souper Diaries
Many soup recipes on this website. If you search for “confinement” on the site, you’ll find recipes such as Green Papaya Fish Soup for promoting breastmilk (linked below), or pork trotter with ginger and vinegar for promoting strength and recovery.
8. The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
A book on the first 40 days of healing for confinement, detailing recipes for soups and foods that will assist in healing and replenishment.
9. Po Wing Hong Food Market Online
Online shop to purchase herbal ingredients needed for many of the soups. Their physical location is in Manhattan Chinatown in New York City but can ship within the US.
10. T S Emporium
Another trusted and well-known site to purchase the herbal ingredients online, but in Canada.