Best Indian Confinement Services in Malaysia

Indian confinement services are an important part of postpartum recovery, offering new mothers a nurturing blend of traditional wisdom, Ayurvedic healing, and personalised care. It integrates time-tested practices to support the mother’s recovery while ensuring the baby’s well-being. Similar to Malay confinement care, Indian confinement care emphasises on the usage of spices to warm up the body.

Typically lasting 40 days, this period emphasises rest, rejuvenation, and bonding between mother and child. In Malaysia, various centres offer traditional Indian confinement care, each incorporating unique practices and packages.​

Key Components of Indian Confinement Care

  1. Diet and Nutrition: The confinement diet includes simple, easily digestible foods enriched with spices to warm the body, boost immunity, and enhance breast milk production. Herbal drinks and Ayurvedic tonics like Sukumara Kashayam and Dashamoola Arishtam are also administered to promote healing and strengthen the reproductive system. ​
  2. Massages and Herbal Baths: Daily hot oil massages using nurturing oils such as sesame or coconut are performed to expel ‘wind’ from the body and improve blood circulation. These massages are typically followed by herbal baths infused with neem leaves, aiding in muscle relaxation and overall rejuvenation. ​
  3. Belly Binding: Post-massage, the abdomen is wrapped with a cotton sari or cloth. This practice is believed to help the uterus contract, eliminate stomach wind, and reduce stretch marks, aiding in the body’s return to its pre-pregnancy state. ​

Postnatal Massages

Postnatal massage is an essential part of Indian confinement care, offering new mothers a path to recovery, relaxation, and overall well-being. These massages help relieve stress, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural healing process after childbirth.

The session normally begins with a full-body oil massage, which includes a specialised lactation massage to promote milk flow and relieve engorgement. This is followed by a face-lifting massage to reduce puffiness, enhance circulation, and restore the skin’s natural glow. A head and neck massage helps alleviate tension, improve sleep quality, and reduce postpartum headaches. The session also includes full-body hot stone therapy (Tungku), where heated stones are used to ease muscle stiffness, enhance blood circulation, and support uterine contraction. Finally, a 30-minute sauna therapy helps detoxify the body, improve skin health, and promote relaxation.

This type of specialised postnatal massage offers several benefits, including lochia reduction, which helps expel postpartum discharge up to 90-95% for faster recovery. For mothers recovering from a C-section, the massage supports wound healing, allowing them to sleep comfortably on their tummy while reducing poking pain associated with surgical scars.

The Unique Art of Indian Baby Massage

Sometimes, an Indian confinement service will include massages for the newborn. Indian-style baby massage is a time-honoured tradition passed down through generations, emphasising the baby’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This holistic practice nurtures the baby’s body while promoting relaxation and healthy growth. Using gentle, rhythmic strokes, trained confinement therapists apply pressure to key areas to:

Key Elements of Indian Baby Massage:

  1. Warm Oil Application – Oils like sesame, coconut, or almond are gently warmed before application to improve absorption, nourish the skin, and provide a soothing experience.
  2. Circular Motions – Massaging in circular movements enhances blood circulation, promotes lymphatic drainage, and balances energy flow in the baby’s body.
  3. Gentle Stretching – Light stretching exercises help improve flexibility, strengthen muscles, and encourage relaxation.
  4. Leg and Foot Massage – Starting with the legs, gentle circular strokes on the thighs, knees, and feet improve circulation, while ankle rotations enhance mobility.
  5. Arm and Hand Massage – Soft strokes from the shoulders to the wrists, along with individual finger massages, help strengthen the baby’s grip and coordination.
  6. Chest & Stomach Massage – Clockwise strokes on the tummy aid digestion, relieve gas, and support a healthy gut.
  7. Back Massage – Long strokes along the spine relax the muscles while avoiding direct pressure on the baby’s delicate spine.
  8. Facial Massage – Light circular movements on the cheeks, forehead, and nose encourage relaxation and may help shape delicate facial features.
  9. Head Massage – Gentle circular motions on the scalp stimulate blood circulation, supporting hair growth and relaxation while avoiding the soft fontanelle area.
  10. Bonding & Communication – Maintaining eye contact, speaking softly, and responding to the baby’s cues strengthen the parent-child connection, making the massage a deeply reassuring experience.

Indian baby massage not only promotes muscle tone and flexibility but also fosters emotional security and overall well-being, making it an essential part of traditional postpartum care.

Considerations When Choosing a Confinement Service:

  • Professional Expertise: Ensure the service providers are certified and experienced in traditional Indian postpartum care practices.
  • Customised Care: Look for services that tailor their offerings to individual health needs, preferences, and any specific dietary requirements.​
  • Comprehensive Packages: Opt for packages that encompass a holistic approach, including diet planning, massages, herbal baths, and newborn care.​
  • Hygiene and Safety: Verify that the service maintains high standards of cleanliness and follows safety protocols, especially concerning massage oils, herbs, and bathing practices.​
  • Client Testimonials: Research reviews and feedback from previous clients to assess the quality and reliability of the services offered.​

Top Traditional Indian Confinement Service Providers in Malaysia

1. Rubysha Confinement Care and Products

Location: Semenyih, Selangor

Rubysha provides scientifically approached traditional Indian confinement care services since 2017, including certified massage therapy and comprehensive postpartum support.​ The confinement centre offers a comprehensive postnatal recovery experience for both normal and C-section deliveries.

The care regimen includes daily herbal showers, which involve a rejuvenating bath using herbal leaves, a full-body scrub, and a traditional water splash at the tummy and hip for mothers who have had a normal delivery. To further enhance relaxation and scalp health, pre-bath head and neck oil massages followed by a hair wash are provided on specific days post-delivery. Herbal smoke therapy and leg massages are performed daily, focusing on the vaginal area, hands, and legs to improve circulation and support healing.

For overall physical recovery, daily wellness massages target the tummy, thighs, hands, and back to relieve muscle tension and enhance postpartum healing. Full-body hot stone therapy (Tungku) is also incorporated into the routine, using heated stones to alleviate soreness, improve circulation, and assist with uterine contraction. Mothers recovering from a C-section receive specialized wound care for 15 days post-delivery to aid in healing and reduce discomfort. Additionally, belly binding begins on the 5th day for normal delivery and after the external wound has healed for C-section mothers, helping to tighten the abdomen and provide essential back support.

2. Sha Indian Confinement Care

Location: Klang Valley

A certified Indian Confinement Therapist, Paramesvari of Sha Indian Confinement Centre specialises in traditional Indian confinement care for mothers and newborns, offering services such as massages, herbal baths, and dietary guidance.​ Her Facebook page is filled with glowing testimonies from happy customers.

3. Saivetha Confinement Care

Location: Klang Valley

Saivetha Confinement Care offers exclusive 15-day and 30-day custom-made packages designed to provide new mothers with the support, care, and nourishment they need during their postpartum journey. The services blend traditional practices with modern postpartum support, ensuring a smooth and restorative recovery for both mother and baby.

The mother and baby package includes a range of specialised services tailored to promote healing and relaxation. Portable sauna bathing with herbal roots aids in detoxification, while smoke therapy supports internal recovery. New mothers receive nutritious confinement meals for lunch and dinner, carefully prepared to enhance lactation and overall well-being. Stomach bengkung tying, a traditional belly binding technique, helps provide abdominal support and aids in body reshaping. Babies also receive traditional oil massages, which include enhancement massage techniques to support healthy development. Other services include the traditional hot bath method, mild smoke therapy on alternating head bathing days, and umbilical cord care to ensure proper healing for newborns.

In addition to these services, Saivetha Confinement Care provides a selection of premium herbal and wellness products to enhance postpartum recovery. The package includes herbal bathing powder and roots for cleansing, Prasava Marenthu Chellevu for internal healing, and herbal tea as a tonic for mothers. Vitamin A and B supplements aid energy restoration and lactation, while skincare essentials like herbal scrub soap, ginger massage oil, and soothing nipple balm provide comfort. For intimate care, a feminine herbal wash with prebiotics and manjakani is included. Additional offerings feature a calming spray, firming herbal blends, and Bengkung belly wraps for postpartum support.

4. V-MAz Indian Confinement Care

Location: Klang Valley and Negeri Sembilan

V-MAz Indian Confinement Care provides comprehensive prenatal, postnatal, and neonatal care, offering a nurturing experience for both mother and baby. Rooted in traditional Indian confinement practices, V-MAz ensures that new mothers receive the care and attention they need during their precious 30-day recovery period, all within the comfort of their own home.

Their services include prenatal and postnatal care to support maternal well-being before and after childbirth, as well as neonatal care to ensure the baby’s health and development. Mothers can also benefit from rejuvenating full-body massages, designed to promote relaxation, improve circulation, and aid in postpartum recovery. With a focus on warm, personalized care, V-MAz Indian Confinement Care helps new mothers regain their strength while providing essential nurturing for their newborns.

Instagram: @ourwarmcare

5. Traditional Indian Confinement

Location: Penang and Kulim

Traditional Indian Confinement offers professional postnatal care services provided by a certified confinement therapist and massage therapist with recognised qualifications, including SKM certification and JPK trainer accreditation. Serving Penang and Kulim, the centre specialises in traditional Indian postpartum practices that promote recovery, wellness, and newborn care.

The 30-day confinement service includes a traditional Indian postnatal bath for both mother and baby, combined with nourishing confinement meals designed to aid healing and lactation. A range of Ayurvedic wellness massages is also available, including postnatal massage to restore the mother’s strength, lactation massage to support milk flow, and prenatal massage for expectant mothers. Specialized baby massage and baby bath services ensure gentle care for newborns, promoting relaxation and healthy development.

When selecting a confinement service, it’s essential to consider your personal needs, cultural practices, and comfort. Engaging with reputable providers ensures a supportive environment for both mother and newborn during this critical recovery phase.