本文的目的在探討作月子與社會支持的關係。大部分的中國婦女相信傳統的作月子可以讓她們不但在產後恢復健康更可在日後維持健康。作月子習俗是原自於中國文化對產後婦女的一項重要支持，而社會支持被認為是影響產後婦女健康的重要變數。建議產後儀式內容宜考慮婦女的期望。醫療健康人員需要了解產後婦女個人的期望，以便提供適切的照顧與發展支持性計畫避免產後婦女的痛苦。

The purpose of this articlewas to explore the relationship between "doing the month",and social support. Doing the month is a strategy and a form of support derived fromChinese culture for postpartum women. Most Chinese postpartum women believe thatfollowing rituals of doing the month according to tradition can make them healthy, notonly in the period immediately following childbirth, but also in their later life. While thereare many variables involved in the practice of doing the monthwhichmight contribute tothe health of postpartum women, one important aspect that has been identified concernssocial support. The concept of a rite that fulfils a postpartum woman's expectations issuggested. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the expectations of individualpostpartum women in order to provide them with appropriate care and develop supportprograms to prevent postnatal distress.