At 09:11 23-6-00 +0100, you wrote:
>One of the 'dos and don'ts' at the back of the leaflet was (and I am
>not joking): 'Go to the toilet before you feed your baby and remember
>to wash your hands.'
>
>Eh? Apart from the insulting reminder to women about how to manage
>their personal hygiene, what on earth is the reasoning behind the
>command to 'go' in the first place???

Heather,

This advice of 'going to the toilet' (every Three hours during the day!!!)
and washing hands before feeds is common practice in The Netherlands!
Parents are taught this in hospital and and at home in the early days after
delivery.

The 'reason' behind it is that the released oxytocin during the feed makes
the uterus contract. With the bladder positioned in front of the uterus a
full bladder prevents the uteri bloodvessels from contracting and increases
the risk of haemorrhaging.

The handwashing ofcourse has everything to do with hygiene :-D.


Hope this helps, please don't ask my opinion on this one ;-D

Renate Rietveld, IBCLC
Rijswijk, The Netherlands.

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Renate Rietveld, IBCLC
E-mail  : [log in to unmask]
Homepage: http://www.casema.net/~rietveld/index.htm
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