most traditional indians follow the 40-day confinement and recuperation period also known as the "jaappa" (in hindi). a special diet to facilitate milk production and increase hemoglobin levels is followed. sex is not allowed during this time. in hindu culture, this time after childbirth was traditionally considered a period of relative impurity ("asaucham"), and a period of confinement of 10–40 days (known as "purudu") was recommended for the mother and the baby. during this period, she was exempted from usual household chores and religious rites. the father was purified by a ritual bath before visiting the mother in confinement.