Javanese slimming wrap

Its function is to help the mother regain her health and beauty in 40 days after giving birth. It keeps the body looking fresh, healthy, energetic and young. It is commonly held that the Java Wrap help firm the abdominal muscles, reposition the womb and eliminate stretch marks. The Java Wrap is used after the 5th month of the birth. Women who have cesearean section are not suitable to use this treatment.

This treatment ritual also help to prevent the various post pregnancy health problems such as rough skin, excessive falling hair, body odors, loose skin, etc.

This Jamu Harbis Bersalin Super Pil (Java Wrap) comprises:

1) Jamu Bersalin Pil No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 pills
2) Tapel Ratus I
3) Tapel Sosok I
4) Tapel Sirih I
5) Pilis Singgul
6) Parem
7) Telon oil

 The 9 yard elastic 'Barut' cloth wrap will be provided. (see picture below) Also called Bengkung, the cloth is wrapped wound tightly from the hips to the rib cage. It is left on for 3 to 4 hours each time for the next 10 - 15 days. Alternatively, pressure garments can be used.  This ancient practice of abdominal wrapping, until now almost unknown outside of Malaya, is the key secret in ensuring a firm flat stomach, clean and devoid of stretch marks, even after undergoing several births. Furthermore it helps to correctly re-position the uterus. The uterus plays a vital role in the health and femininity of a woman. If there are wounds or the uterus is still swollen, the vaginal passage is likely to remain loose and watery. Malays also believe that if the uterus area is sagging, the woman will look more aged than her actual age. Combining this abdominal wrapping with specially prepared herbal remedies, a strict diet regime, massages, and Kawi hot stone treatments will greatly enhance the internal and external health of the new mother.

The Jamu Harbis Bersalin follows the time honoured traditional of the Javanese post pregnancy rituals to maintain and enhance the mother's health and beauty. To the Javanese, these rituals are important as the the body is undergoing extreme stress and contortions. Without efficient care, the body may not return to its former beauty and proportion.

Java Wraps have been used by Javanese women for centuries as the answer to slimming. This body wrapping was used as a process for women to regain their figures after giving birth. It is still commonly used today and is done for 40 days after having a baby to rid the midriff from post birth bagginess. It is thought that the Java wrap flushes out bacteria from the body and helps the lymphatic system rejuvenate. It is also thought to help in the cleansing and healing of the new mother’s body.

A mixture of eucalyptus, crushed sea stone or coral, lime juice, betel leaf, and oil are mixed together into a paste and then applied to the abdomen area. Then a very long cotton cummerbund (about 6 inches wide and 8-10 yards long) is tightly wrapped around the body starting from under the breasts until the lower hip area. Someone has to assist in the process to achieve maximum tension. Some women use a gerita instead of a long cummerbund which is a corset like garment that is made from cotton. The gerita also fits the body from under the breasts to the lower hip, however it wraps around the body once and has ties in the front allowing the wearer to fasten it herself. Our Java Wrap kit, which contain premixed amounts of the paste as well as pills that are taken for the 40 day period is a more convenient alternative to mixing the raw herbs every time you use the Java Wrap.

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The instructions for 2 items inside the box is in Indonesian. Here are the English instructions. It is written for the first time in English:

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The traditions

Madeung means, an individual activity to warm up the body above or close to a fire place to avoid feeling cold. But it also means the time or process of childbirth starting from the flow of liquid, blood and water, the child and the placenta until 40 days later.

When the time comes, the mother of the pregnant women surrenders the daughter to the Ma Blien. It is done in a ceremony and saying: “hukom bak Allah, hukom bak Rasul, hukom bak Ma Blien aneuk kamou pujuok” (in the name of the law from Allah, law from the Prophet, and the law from Ma Blien here with we hand over our daughter to you). Since then the Ma Blien is responsible for the whole process of health care and childbirth of the woman.

The process of handing over takes place before the pregnancy is three months old. The Ma Blien always controls her pregnancy. Usually it is done every month and the Ma Blien decides the age of her pregnancy and the time when she will give birth, “pajan madeung.” The Ma Blien also functions as a godmother, “Mak Suebot”. The living cost of the Ma Blien is the responsibility of the pregnant woman. The cost is generally in kind like rice.

Certain equipment for the madeung must be prepared by the family and some by the Ma Blien. The Ma Blien, first must make ready a thread to tie up the umbilical cord (used to be made of pineapple leaf fiber, now it is any thread bought in the market). Second, teumen (blade of split bamboo to cut umbilical cord) but now it is replaced by a pair of scissors from the Health Center so as the clip for the umbilical cord before it is cut. The family prepares such as turmeric, betel leaf, baby kit and the mother herself. The turmeric is used to cover the navel whenever the umbilical cord is cut. The rich family used gold to replace the turmeric.

After the birth and the mother has been cleaned the Ma Blein chews the betel leaf and the seupah (things usually taken together when chewing betel leaf) and then she spits blow  it over the baby’s head or on the crown of the baby’s head. It is done for the baby’s protection from satan, because the seupah is considered to have magical power. The umbilical cord is no longer given kitchen ashes, but alcohol or other solutions from village midwife on the Puskesmas 

Madeung usually takes place at the back veranda, “seuramo likot” of the house. Those who are allowed to witness the procession include her mother, mother in law, or her grand mother. Her husband and other relatives should wait at the front veranda, or in corridor connecting the front and back verandah.

The process of birth begins when the mother lays down on a mat following certain symptom such as, the flow of phlegm, blood and fetal membrane. The Ma Blien reads her secret mantra in a very low tone, and then she blows toward the patient. This is a symbol that will give the patient the strength and blow out evil spirit from the body.

People regard that giving birth is a natural process. But, if there is an obstacle in the process it is assumed to be caused by satan or evil spirit. In such an event the Ma Blien will use her very secret magic. She will recite or read the seuleusoh pray over a glass of water. The Ma Blien lets the patient drink the water. If the Ma Blien fails to spell the problems the family must find a religious leader in the village or in the neighboring village. The next step is that her husband and her mother must be called. The Ma Blien will ask the patient to apologize from her husband and her mother-in-law. After granting forgiveness, the mother-in-law blows on her forehead seven times with a certain reading while saying,” bek trep that saket gata, jak laju u lua, lage badee teureubang” (do not hold up too long, came out like the hurricane blows). The Ma Blien generally does not understand difficulties in childbirth, like a prolonged labor. She takes them as all Satan’s work.

Normally when a baby is born the first to appear is the head, but it may also be the buttock or feet. Such a birth is called lahee jaheuk (up side down). Some believe that a child of this kind may become a bone fracture healer or able to cure broken bone. It is said that his saliva can cure sprained joints.

A newly born baby is placed in siteuok thoo (a dry areca nut leaf), while waiting for the placenta come out. The baby umbilical cord is cut and the baby is washed with warm water. The cutting of the umbilical cord is usually done over turmeric or gold, depend on the prosperity of the family. The yellow color (turmeric or gold) is a symbol of glory and greatness. Before cutting the umbilical cord it is clipped on both sides. The tweezers usually supplied by the Community Health Center. All the Ma Blien can do this procedure since they got some training from midwives at the Health Center. The umbilical cord is now cut using a pair of scissors, not using split bamboo. Then the tip of the umbilical cord is bandaged with a clean bandage using alcohol which they can buy in stores or from the Health Center. In the past they used to apply kitchen ashes. Refrain from using kitchen ashes plus clean work has decreased the tetanus rate among the children under five years old. In addition, the awareness among the pregnant women to have ant tetanus injection during their pregnancy has helped decrease the tetanus among the neonatal. But, although it has followed a modern way of childbirth there are still babies who get the betel nut and other ingredients spit blow by the Ma Blien or the grand mother over the whole body of the baby. It is aimed to protect the baby from evil things as the betel plus all other ingredients have a super natural power.

When the baby is given new clothing she/he is handed to her/his father to call to prayer. If the baby is a boy, the father will call azan (call the time to prayer) and if it is a girl, the father will only iqomat (call to immediately begin to prayer). But, this obligation can be also done by a religious leader so that the child will behave accordingly in the future and obey Allah (the God). However, this also means that the first sound the baby hears is the call to be pious.

After the placenta comes out the mother is bathed. All blood spots are cleaned using warm water and soap. Finally she is bathed with citreous fragrant water to protect her from evil spirit and to get rid of bad odor from childbirth.

When the placenta comes out it is cleaned by the Ma Blien, dried and given some salt, lime, and kitchen ashes, then wrapped in cloth, put into clay pot, and then buried. Sometime it is dried first over the fire place. The placenta of a girl is buried under the ladder or the front step of the house and for the boy under the caves of roof. It means that a girl should stay in the house, while the boy goes away but still remember to come back home. For as long as seven nights a panyeut cilet (oil lamp made of earthenware) must by lighted to prevent the placenta from thieves or evil spirits to take it away. The placenta should not be buried very deep or very shallow.  If it is very deep, the next time the mother gives birth she might face difficulty.

People believe that there is a strong relationship between the baby and the placenta. If the placenta is not well cleaned or well taken care, the baby will often get stomach aches and may die of it. But, actually it may have nothing to with the placenta. It is common that the baby get stomach ache if the baby is too early to feed with hard food like banana which may cause the ileum folded.

After the process of childbirth, the Ma Blien visits the mother to bathe and massage her abdomen every day so that it will soon be clean. She can manipulate the next pregnancy that it will happen in about two years time later. Beside the mother, she also bathes the baby for as long as the umbilical cord falls off.  For the next 40 days the husband may not sleep on the same bed as the wife as it is a part of the traditional taboo.

On the seventh day after the childbirth, when her health is improving the mother will start madeung. She will lay down on an iron bed and live coals are put under the bed. The purpose is to dry her up so that her connective tissues become tightened and strong including her vaginal muscles to make the husband loves to stay home.

The process of madeung may take 15 days, but some take 20 or 30, to 40 days depending on the mother’s choice. While on the madeung her diet is arranged strictly. She can only eat one handful of rice, drink a little water, and dried small anchovy. But, it reduces production of breast milk. However, those processes are no longer practiced due to modernization influences.

Madeung is now replaced by teet batee (heating stone). A round stone as a big punch taken from the river is heated on live coals. It is then covered with a piece of cloth and placed it on the lower abdomen. Then the stone is wrapped again with an abdominal sash around the hip. The purpose is to relieve the uterus and vaginal muscles. It is believed to be able regulate the blood circulation and prevent the mother from pregnancy. The length of time for the teet batee depends on the mother’s physical strength and choice. However, it is recommended for 40 days, but some do it 2 weeks, 20 days, even some for 30 or 40 days. While practicing this, the mother may not eat much, may not drink much, and every day, she must drink turmeric juice and certain herbs. Following the teet batee, the mother should drink boiled herbs of 44 kinds to clean up the uterus, regulate blood circulation and to prevent from pregnancy.

In the past the community did not know jamu bersalin (medical the herbs for childbirth), but now it is already made by industry and has been used widely. There are two well-known herbal medicines “Nyonya Meneer” and “Ayam Jago”.  This has put aside the herbs made by the Ma Blien from herbs and bark of certain trees.

[ About Semarang ]

In size and inhabitants, Semarang falls under the five major cities of Indonesia. It is situated on Java's normally flat northern coast and appropriately called the capital of Central Java as it lies just about halfway between the two extreme east and west coasts of the island. Indeed, few cities in the country have got hills and mountains so clearly visible from their seaports. In fact, mostly residential, Candi is a hill within Semarang's perimeter from where breathtaking panoramas on all directions can be witnessed: the port, the lowlands and green paddy fields, the city itself and the numerous mountains.