Making It Awkward Confinement Nannies and MAHA's Luxury of Taking From Other Cultures with Sherene Chou, MS., RD.
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Dec 18, 2025 Sherene Chou, MS., RD., a registered dietitian and maternal health commentator, shares her insights on the Chinese tradition of confinement nannies after experiencing it firsthand. She discusses cultural appropriation concerns, especially related to public figures adopting these practices while supporting anti-immigrant policies. Sherene also highlights the importance of postpartum care, the challenges of breastfeeding and pumping, and how vital nourishment is during recovery. She offers advice for prospective parents and reflects on immigrant resilience in motherhood.
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Postpartum Care As Healing
- Confinement nannies provide holistic postpartum care rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, focusing on warm nutrient-dense foods and rest.
- Sherene Chou argues this support treats postpartum recovery as healing from a major trauma rather than a brief inconvenience.
Personal Reason For Hiring A Nanny
- Sherene Chou shared her own experience hiring a confinement nanny for one month after both births during COVID.
- She said her mother had no postpartum help as an immigrant, which motivated Sherene to ensure she had support.
Childbirth As Traumatic Work
- Sherene frames childbirth as traumatic physical and mental work requiring structured recovery and community support.
- She links inadequate postpartum support to higher risks of postpartum depression and long-term health consequences.