>
>What other countries support the practice of mother/infant bed-sharing in
>the postpartum ward?

Nikki, practice varies widely in the UK, from expressions of real 
horror and written policies which effectively forbid any bedsharing 
in any circumstances, to warm encouragement to do it all the time, 
reluctant acceptance when a baby is 'unsettled',  to side car cots 
which clip on to the maternal bed.  I'm not aware of any places which 
distinguish between breastfeeding and formula feeding in their 
policies, or smokers, or sedated mothers,  but that doesn't mean 
there aren't any - I just haven't heard of them. I would be surprised 
if the smoking and sedation thing was not taken into account.

Dr Helen Ball is a local colleague of mine and I am one of the two 
lay people on a group which meets to comment on her current research 
which is to see if side car cots in hosp. postnatal wards are 
assiciated with longer breastfeeding after discharge.

Bed sharing is hugely controversial in the UK and every so often 
there is quite the media storm about it.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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