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.
新生命的诞生固然是让人高兴的大事儿，但生产的过程对新妈妈来说，无论是身体上还是心理上都是非常疲惫的。生产结束后，每个新妈妈都需要恢复时间，就算是生产过程相对轻松的妈妈也不例外。剖腹产和并发症等使得妈妈们在产后越来越需要得到护理。
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.
世界各国的女性在生产后都会得到各方的帮助支持，有的来自家人朋友，有的来自团体组织，他们帮助新妈妈恢复体力，和新生儿之间建立亲子关系。不同地区的产妇所得到的的产假时长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.
在中国和印度，许多产妇妈妈都有坐月子的传统。生下宝宝后30至40天，妈妈都要卧床休息，不做任何体力劳动。
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.
新妈妈待在家里，由家人朋友悉心照料。有些人甚至还会专门雇“月嫂”，负责做产妇专用恢复餐、教会新妈妈如何给孩子洗澡、裹襁褓等等。要是妈妈累了要休息，她们还得照顾新生儿。
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，产妇生活的地区不同，坐月子的时间也不同，但大都在40至60天左右。除了休息和特殊饮食，新妈妈在坐月子期间每天还要做按摩，以放松身体、促进血液循环。
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.
但并不是所有国家都有坐月子的传统。部分原因是不管有没有专业护理，在家待40天对于大多数女性来说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.
事实上，全球许多女性因为没有产假，在生下孩子后就立刻返回工作岗位。
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.
美国是唯一一个不设国家带薪产假项目的发达国家。同其它国家相比，瑞典为新生儿父母各提供48周的带薪产假，英国有39周，俄罗斯有28周。即使在印度和马来西亚，产妇也有12周的带薪产假。
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.
凯特王妃生下第一个孩子后将会回娘家，与父母卡罗尔和迈克尔住在一起。卡罗尔的弟弟加里·戈德史密斯确认说，凯瑟琳（即凯特王妃）的确需要妈妈的帮助。
“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.”
谈起米德尔顿一家时，戈德史密斯说：“他们在产后前六周和孩子住在母亲家的决定十分正确，卡罗尔是个聪明能干的母亲。他比我大十岁，之前就照顾过我。我认为回家的做法很明智，凯特的压力会因此减轻不少。”