with regard to posts which note that Hispanic women don't start
breastfeeding until the milk comes in and then they do just fine - first,
practicing in Texas I've cared for many Hispanic women, and perinatal
beliefs and practices tend to vary, as for any recent immigrant group
(although many argue that since Native Americans were here in Texas before
us Anglos, we invaded and they didn't immigrate) - by what "generation"
they are - eg born in Mexico, parents born there but this patient born
here, etc. There are also variations within the broad category "Hispanic",
since this term is loosely used to cover everyone originating from an area
that extends from the southwestern United States to Tierra del Fuego. But
I digress..
anyway, in the low-income Hispanic women, mostly Spanish-speaking, that I
cared for in Houston, the plan was to breastfeed and give formula via
bottle - from the beginning, and I found it very difficult to change
anyone's mind. So full supply was often not tested, and often supply
diminished significantly.
Julie Graves Moy, MD, MPH
Austin, Texas
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