Imagine if you were giving birth in a country that was foreign to you and
had very different customs based on their understanding of childbirth and
breastfeeding.  There may or may not be a language barrier, as well.  Now
imagine how you would FEEL and what you would DO if they urged you to
swaddle your baby for the first 5-8 months, leave it in the central nursery
or at the foot of your bed in a cradle, not initiate BF until the "bad"
colostrum was gone, BF only every 4 hours when finally allowed to do it,
etc.  They believe they have centuries of experience with their practices,
and can probably cite research that supports these practices.

Would this change your breastfeeding and baby care practices?

Do we expect those of other cultures and beliefs to change their cultural
beliefs and practices just because we tell them that we know better than
they do, and we have research to prove it?

Barb Berges BS, RN, IBCLC
Rochester, New York

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