With all these interesting cultural beliefs, I think that those of the tribes living between Mexico and the North Pole are probably the worst! 

They believe your milk can "dry up" for no reason at all!

They believe you have to "hold off" from feeding too often, and the less frequently the better. Mother's in this culture look at the clock more than they look at the baby!

They expect their offspring to sleep contentedly for 10-12 hours at night without waking. They even have "sleep experts" who tell them babies must be ignored and left to cry during the night. They believe babies will never learn how to fall sleep alone if you don't do this!

Nursing mothers are told to avoid chocolate, strawberries, beans, cabbage, milk, wine, beer, shellfish, garlic and spicy foods. However, they also believe that a mother can only produce  milk if she has a perfect diet and drinks several quarts of water each day. Many quiit because they find this burdensome.

These folks think 6 weeks of breastfeeding is sufficient because it gives baby "a good start" in life.

They often go to the trouble of pumping their own milk and putting it in bottles for feeding in public because nursing is socially inappropriate. This culture believes that the main function of a breast is beauty, especially as appreciated by men as part of lovemaking. Therefore nursing is seen as a somewhat incestuous activity that should be stopped before the baby is old enough to be aware.

Some feel that breastmilk alone is very boring for the baby, so they add solid foods before they are needed. It is presumed that babies must be taught how to eat solid foods, or they'll never eat. Weaning is another activity that must be aggressively pursued with the belief the child will also never wean without his mother's insistence. 

Breastmilk is considered to be a biohazardous waste product.



Sheila Stubbs 


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