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Subject:
From:
Rhoda Taylor <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 14 Nov 2001 10:28:43 -0800
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Before I comment, does anyone have the current statistics to show first
time infants still have higher death rates?
Reasons historically were probably the same as risk factors now. Age:
usually 16-18  First delivery: with all associated unknown risks Higher
risk of prematurity.Poor nutrition. Not all people were fed equally, those
of 'greater value' whether male or female ate first.  It also depended upon
the harvest and could affect all pregnancies. My mother has clear
remembrance of the outcome of my grandmother's pregnancies being tied to
time of year and quality of harvest (this was while in north america). In
her case she chose to feed her children first.
Also in my grandmother's case and I think this was common, she was new to
the family...the brides moved into the husband's family compound. This put
her at the bottom of the pecking order. My grandfather was away most of the
time trying to get income to escape (immigrate). She believes the baby died
of infection caused by poor care by his (my grandfather's) step mother. The
problem between the  mother in law and my grandmother may be part of the
reason she never learned how to breastfeed, although I got the feeling she
never tried. When you look at these large complex families where ever they
live and whatever their ethnic background don't dismiss the family dynamics
and don't assume all family members are supportive of the infant's survival.
Several years ago I saw a UN presentation on survival rates of infants
under 5 when co-related to the existence of their grandmother. It was more
closely related than the existence of their mother. Food for thought.
Just as a note the local old wives remedy for teething, colic or fussing
was a concoction of poppy and honey (lets see opium and botulism). This was
also used to keep the infants quiet during the day so the mothers could
work in the fields.
When my grandmother was in her late 70s we asked her what was the most
amazing technological advance she had seen. We expected it to be something
like, telephones or the man on the moon. Her straight faced, serious
response was 'birth control' :)

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