Pearl,
The Japanese do do br massage after the baby is born, but it is totally
unlike breast massage as we know it. It is more a gentle moving of the
breast to one side, then to the other, then together. They even use one hand
over the other to press against the breast so that it won't be too rough.
The principle behind it (as I understand it), is to increase the blood flow
to the breast, but somehow, it also decreases engorgement. I'll ask Nancy
Cantwell (our Korean-Japanese -- see the upcoming issue of the Globe) what
the purpose is. I don't think it is designed to increase fat in the
milk....though it might have that effect.
Jan B.