>
>
>Some time ago I read about a midwife who doesn't ask her clients whether
>they have decided on a 'feeding' method and simply places the baby on the
>mother's abdomen after birth.
>
>

This is, or should be, normal practice everywhere - it's normal in
many UK hospitals.

It is in line with Baby Friendly, and why should ff mothers and
babies be denied skin to skin contact after the birth? It's not a
'trick' to try to make mothers bf if they don't want to :)

Mothers should be informed, respectfully, at some point before the
birth,  that after the birth it is routine with healthy mothers and
babies, to 'unite' them in this way, to ensure it is not a surprise
when this happens.

It is Baby Friendly to inform *all* mothers about breastfeeding and
not to ask for a decision about feeding at all. No one needs to make
up their mind in pregnancy, anyway!

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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