CJ,
the red dots, no need to follow the template (i have an e-copy also, which i never use)... i stick randomly.. the GD program says to stick randomly lah....
peddie,
while it is good to get your BF's support, ultimately, we women must do what we believe in and plan towards it.. if inspite of all the negative factors, you still want to keep your baby... go ahead and brave through the hurdles ahead.. call the numbers i provide to get a start.. this way, you get support rightaway even, if your family eventually throw their support behind you...
You are a brave woman.. don't give up!
For traditional confinement food, chinese believe that we will retain lots of wind in our tummies & water retention is common also.. so, our diet for that one month is full of nutritious food e.g. fish, lean meat, food with natural iron (to replenish blood loss e.g. liver), often with lots of vinegar, ginger, cooking wine to get rid of the "wind" in our system..but, if you want to breastfeed, make sure don't over consume too much ginger & wine before you feed the baby.. you can eat ginger & consume wine, after breastfeeding baby and with a gap of ~2 hrs before next feeding! otherwise, you will have a colicky & "ma bo" baby!!
No cold drinks as this promote water retention and old wives' tales say it will contribute to weak bones/ artiritis/ reumathism etc..
Buy standby red dates & dried longan from chinese medical halls --> this is to be boiled together and drank in place of plain water during the 1st month.
Traditionally, no showering also.. keke.. but now, since many breastfeed babies.. think is better to be hygenic! Bath only with hot boiled water (hot tap water is also not recommended)... and with addition of herbs, which you can buy from traditional medical halls (called da feng cao, i think.. got lemongrass & other spicy herbs inside).
Also, drink more soupy stuff to encourage milk flow .e.g. boil green papaya with fish.. supposed to be good for breastmilk stimulation..
You need help during confinement, to bath baby etc.. as you will still be tired & weak after delivery.. and old wives' tales say to avoid touching water as much as possible (so how to bath baby yourself??)
You will need:
1) a place to stay
2) 6 to 12 sets of baby tops in NB/ 0-3 months/ 0-6 months size (for times when baby vomit/burp/ regurgitate milk/ wet their bottoms etc) --> note that no need to spend much on bottoms as 1st month, should air the umbilical cord area of baby & baby likely to be wrapped up or in diapers..
3) cloth diapers (can wash & reuse & save money but spend more time & energy & water!!)
4) Small square towels - as wash cloth during bath time and can double as bibs over shoulder
5) bath tub with nonslip bottom
6) bathing items
7) disposable diapers (convenient/ expensive!) try to obtain samples to try them out!
8) a receiving blanket to wrap up baby & provide a sense of security initially
9) mittens/ booties x 3 sets min. to avoid them scratching themselves
10) milk bottles & teats x 4 of 240ml size and 2 of 120ml size..
11) miscelleaneous stuff like baby wipes, cotton wool, cotton bud, baby powder, diaper rash cream, Ru yi oil (for soothing colicky babies..), gripe water.., cabbage leaves on stand
hope u enjoy the tea like i did as well.. 
