凱特王妃坐一天月子? 細數各國傳統

Giving birth to a child is a physical and emotional experience that's as exhausting as it is exhilarating. Afterward, every new mom needs recovery time, even if she had a relatively easy birth. Factor in a C-section or other complications and the need for care after birth increases exponentially.
新生命的誕生固然是讓人高興的大事兒，但生產的過程對新媽媽來說，無論是身體上還是心理上都是非常疲憊的。生產結束後，每個新媽媽都需要恢復時間，就算是生產過程相對輕鬆的媽媽也不例外。剖腹產和併發症等使得媽媽們在產後越來越需要得到護理。

For many women around the world postpartum support comes from partners, family, and friends who rally to help out and give the new mom a chance to regain her strength and focus on bonding with her baby. The type of support moms get and the length of time they receive that support vary around the world.
世界各國的女性在生產後都會得到各方的幫助支持，有的來自家人朋友，有的來自團體組織，他們幫助新媽媽恢復體力，和新生兒之間建立親子關係。不同地區的產婦所得到的的產假時長和照料方式也各有不同。

In China and India, many new moms practice the tradition of postpartum confinement after the birth of a child. Confinement is a period of time, usually from 30 to 40 days after the birth of a child, when a new mom rests and avoids physical work.
在中國和印度，許多產婦媽媽都有坐月子的傳統。生下寶寶後30至40天，媽媽都要臥牀休息，不做任何體力勞動。

The mom stays home and is attended by close family and friends. Some women even hire a professional confinement "lady" or maid. These helpers cook special recovery meals for the new mom, teach her how to bathe, swaddle, and care for her newborn, and tend to the baby when mom needs rest.
新媽媽待在家裏，由家人朋友悉心照料。有些人甚至還會專門僱“月嫂”，負責做產婦專用恢復餐、教會新媽媽如何給孩子洗澡、裹襁褓等等。要是媽媽累了要休息，她們還得照顧新生兒。

In India the confinement period can last anywhere from 40 to 60 days depending on where the woman lives. In addition to rest and special meals, the "confined" new mom might also receive a daily massage to soothe her body and help her blood circulation.
在印度，產婦生活的地區不同，坐月子的時間也不同，但大都在40至60天左右。除了休息和特殊飲食，新媽媽在坐月子期間每天還要做按摩，以放鬆身體、促進血液循環。

Part of the reason confinement traditions aren't more widespread is that forty days at home, with or without professional help, is a luxury that's out of reach for most women.
但並不是所有國家都有坐月子的傳統。部分原因是不管有沒有專業護理，在家待40天對於大多數女性來說都是可望不可即的奢侈生活。

In fact, many new moms around the world have to go back to work as soon as possible after their child is born because they have no access to paid maternity leave.
事實上，全球許多女性因爲沒有產假，在生下孩子後就立刻返回工作崗位。

The U.S. is one of the only developed countries without a national paid maternity leave program. Compare that to countries like Sweden where new mothers and fathers are eligible for 48 weeks each of paid leave after the birth of a child, the UK (39 weeks) and Russia (28 weeks). Even India and Malaysia both offer 12 weeks of paid leave to their new mothers.
美國是唯一一個不設國家帶薪產假項目的發達國家。同其它國家相比，瑞典爲新生兒父母各提供48周的帶薪產假，英國有39周，俄羅斯有28周。即使在印度和馬來西亞，產婦也有12周的帶薪產假。

The Duchess of Cambridge will live with her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton after giving birth to her first child. Carole’s younger brother, Gary Goldsmith confirmed that Catherine will indeed be using mum’s help.
凱特王妃生下第一個孩子後將會回孃家，與父母卡羅爾和邁克爾住在一起。卡羅爾的弟弟加里·戈德史密斯確認說，凱瑟琳（即凱特王妃）的確需要媽媽的幫助。

“The fact that they’re taking the baby to Carole’s for the first six weeks is genius,” Goldsmith said of the Middletons. ”Carole’s a brilliant mum – she is 10 years older than me and practised on me – and I think it’s the right thing to do. It will take the pressure off Kate.”
談起米德爾頓一家時，戈德史密斯說：“他們在產後前六週和孩子住在母親家的決定十分正確，卡羅爾是個聰明能幹的母親。他比我大十歲，之前就照顧過我。我認爲回家的做法很明智，凱特的壓力會因此減輕不少。”