Dateline: June 27

Dateline tonight features a report, “The Best Place To Have A Baby?”

Janice Petersen meets the new parents spending a month in a luxury post-natal hotel in Taiwan. Do these centres and the tradition of confinement give mum and baby a better start?

She writes, “The Chinese tradition of postpartum confinement, known as zuo yue zi or ‘sitting the month’, is a time for new mothers to recover after childbirth.

“Traditionally, a mother or mother-in-law would be housebound with the new mum for 30 to 40 days to help care for the baby and let her rest. The rules for new mothers are strict in order to prevent them from getting cold and ill. No going outside. No showers or washing hair. Keeping feet warm. Drinking a lot of ginseng tea and eating special dishes.

“In Taiwan, this ancient practice has been given a modern and luxurious spin. For a price, high-end post-birth facilities offer to take the stress out of the first month by pampering new parents while their baby is in the caring hands of professionals.”

9:30pm tonight on SBS.