Last October, a few weeks before my baby was born, the most common question I got from friends and colleagues was, "Are you going to 'sit the month'"?

As a foreigner living in China and married to a Chinese guy, it was only natural that people were curious whether I was going to follow this Chinese postpartum tradition.

Sitting the month, or zuo yuezi, in Chinese, essentially means that in the first month or so after their baby is born, new mothers practice certain things to ensure that their body can heal properly from the arduous experience of birth.

A friend told me that when she was sitting the month many years ago, she wasn't allowed to brush her teeth for the whole month! Of course, some of the stricter traditions of old, like this one, aren't as commonplace these days, but there are still some core aspects that guide your diet, personal hygiene and activities. For instance, new mothers are expected to rest well, focus on nutrition, and avoid cold air and physical exertion.

Strictly speaking, I didn't follow the old "guidelines". I popped out for walks, opened the windows, washed my hair regularly, didn't always wear socks, and drank cold water. But I did kind of sit the month in one regard — because I was confined.