Dear Wendy,

There is an article, "Acculturation and Breastfeeding on the United
States-Mexico Border" The American Jol. of the Medical Sciences July
1993, Vol 306. Number 1 that is very interesting and discusses the
effects of acculturation in Hispanic immigrant women.  There is strong
association between ethnicity and initiation of breastfeeding.
Acculturation to the predominant culture is  one such aspect.  According
to the article, " . . . mothers LEAST acculturated to the US are MOST
likely to breastfeed.  Thus adaptation to the culture of the US
influences infant-feeding choices."  There was a decline in
breastfeedins as acculturation increased.  HOW SAD!  And American is
supposed to the be the land of life, liberty and happiness!

Your research is very important.  I see mothers everyday who somehow
feel that to "fit in with the American way of life" they are supposed to
bottlefeed.  Bottlefeeding is supposed to be associated with wealth and
success.  My mother-in-law (who is Hispanic) said that when she was a
girl, breastfeeding was a sign that you were too poor to buy milk.
Bottlefeeding showed the community that you had money, *enough* money to
buy milk for your baby.  Somehow, she managed to breastfeed all eight of
her children.

Many Native Americans have a WIC clinic on their reservations, but they
are NOT federal.  The WIC clinics are governed by individual tribal
jurisdictions, so anything goes.  Fortunately, breastfeeding rates are
sightly increasing.  A beautiful calendar of Native American women
breastfeeding their babies was created several years ago.  I suspect
this helped new mothers, by displaying breastfeeding as the norm.
However, some Native American groups DO NOT allow their pictures to be
taken.

How can we change this perceived cultural *norm*.  Kathy D., I'd be
interested in your comments.

Heidi S. Roibal
Native American from the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico, USA
whose father was nursed alongside with an orphan cousin.