In plain words
Satogaeri means returning to one's home village, the Japanese practice of going back to one's birth family for part of the postpartum period. A mother may stay for a few weeks or longer. Her own mother or another relative often cooks, cleans, and helps with the baby, so she can rest and recover. For some mothers it is a close and restful time. For others it can bring new friction, especially when expectations or roles are unclear. Few studies have looked at it closely, and mothers' accounts differ. Length of stay and who helps are usually settled between the families.
The deeper version
Satogaeri (里帰り) is a Japanese postpartum custom in which a woman, usually in the first weeks or months after birth, lives temporarily in her natal household. Her mother or another female relative typically provides domestic labor, infant care, and emotional support. The custom has shifted in frequency with urban migration and dual-earner households. Dennis and colleagues' 2007 qualitative review of postpartum customs across cultures described rest and family support as common features. Few studies isolate satogaeri from other forms of postpartum support, so the evidence is largely observational.
Where it comes up
- Baby blues: the first two weeksPostpartum: Mind
- Postpartum traditions around the worldNourishment and Traditions
- Asking for help, and letting it inSupport, Home, and Village
What mothers here say about satogaeri
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Dennis CL, Fung K, Grigoriadis S, et al. — Traditional postpartum practices and rituals: a qualitative systematic review. Women's Health (2007)