Host: Hello again and welcome to the hottest talk show in blogniverse.. BLOGGING TODAY!!! And as we continue with our topic for this week, Post Partum Traditions, I give to you our guest blogger for today, the beautiful (and young) the benggalicious of
Beng’s Entertinment Spree , Miss Beng!

Hello Miss Beng, it really is an honor to have you with us today. Thank you so much for bringing bibingka and puto bumbong here (drool.. drool..)

Beng: Oh no it’s nothing, and it’s my pleasure to be a guest blogger here. And can I take this opportunity to thank Miss Seiko for the maki she gave.(munch on California maki)

Host: (while muching on bibingka and puto bumbong) I think aside from learning about Filipino post partum tradition, our stomachs will be filled today too.

And yes, back to our food show, tell us Miss Beng, what are some of the post partum traditions that you practiced when you gave birth?

Beng: Let me see if I can still remember, haha, it has been 6 years ago. Well, one is, I was not allowed to take a bath for at least two weeks or at least one day after my reflex session. The first time I gave birth to my eldest son, I was really clueless on how to get things done (breastfeeding, bottle feeding, disposable or cloth diaper). My MIL(mother in law) advise me not to take a bath until the reflex session. But my mom told me that I should take a bath before the session starts because during that period mom said I should not take a bath. I followed my mom…but I see to it that I clean myself at night before going to sleep because the smell of oil is irritating.

Host: 2 weeks without a bath? Oh my, please tell pehpot not to go anywhere near us. haha. How about that reflex session, am I right to assume that it is the same as HILOT?

Beng: Yes it is, (is there any English term for that?). Hilot is a must after giving birth. Who would believe that even manghihilot (the person practicing it) offers a package too? After giving birth to my second child, I also got the same manghihilot, but you can choose if you want it on a per day or avail of the complete session, we were in a tight budget then so I chose a 4 day
session only (I think it costs 150 PhP, 6 years ago). Now I have no idea how much.

Host: I am really curious on the “hilot” thing. Why is it necessary?

Beng: If I am not mistake it is done to help our body get back to its normal shape. Our body expands during our pregnancy and it does not easily gets back to its original shape after giving birth, the hilot will make it easier. They say that is one of the reason why mothers who experienced hilot are still sexy (uhurm, uhurm) even after giving birth. The session usually starts after you stop bleeding, about 5 to 7 days after giving birth.

Host: Sounds promising, guess I will avail of that hilot package when it’s my time (which will be gazillion years from now hehe). Tell us more of our post partum traditions..

Beng: Guava leaves, yes, using guava leaves to wash your private parts (and whole body). Boil the leaves with water and use it on your wounds (applicable for normal delivery). I followed this, and its true that it can easily heal the wounds.

Another thing is, you are not allowed to do household chores that involves washing like doing the laundry or cleaning the feeding bottle. But if you have no helper like me, I have no choice but to wash the feeding bottles and clothes of my baby after one week because I used cloth diapers during daytime. My mom would scold me if she found out at night that I washed the baby’s
clothes, sometimes hubby would help me wash the bottles before he goes to the office (I think that’s 1 or 2 weeks after giving birth).

Host: Just like the post partum traditions in Japan (courtesy of Seiko), new mothers are not allowed to do anything. I guess it only shows that amidst the difference on cultures and traditions, mothers are given the highest regards and both country recognize the importance of the mother in the society.

Again, Miss Beng, thank you so much for being with us here (and yes you can that maki home, hihi). I hope that in the future we can invite you to be with our guest again. I enjoyed talking with you specially about the hilot part and being sexy again.

Time to say goodbye guys, see you all next week for our Monday episode of
BLOGGING TODAY!