Restricted physical activities
Traditional postpartum practices encourage new mothers to stay indoors and avoid all types of physical activity. In modern health care, instead of restrictions, postpartum women are encouraged to gradually reincorporate exercise in their daily routine because it may help postpartum women regain adequate muscle tone, increase muscle strength, and reduce weight (Ko et al., 2013). It is also recommended for alleviating negative physical and psychological symptoms (Claesson et al., 2013). Traditional postpartum practices related to limiting physical activities potentially cause health problems such as constipation, osteoporosis, and excessive weight gain (Bray & Bouchard, 2004). Our results indicate that the traditional prescriptions, such as limiting physical activities, and engaging in a few outdoor activities were commonly followed by new mothers, despite being challenged by contemporary scientific evidence.