A Chinese immigrant restaurant worker is due to deliver in our hospital.
This mother speaks limited English.  First baby 5 years ago: a very rough
birth, breastfed briefly, stopped w/badly damaged nipples according to the
nurses.
Normally, at this point in her pregnancy, I would send her a letter, a book
(So That's What They're For) and a video (Medela's Breastfeeding Your
Baby).  I would also plan to see her at the clinic sometime afterwards.

I have all kinds of questions.  What issues would be likely to be
involved?  I've read of dietary beliefs, but I'm thinking more of
    * influence of older family members (and how to counteract it if they
tell her not to breastfeed, which may have played a part last time),
    * English comprehension, and
    * modesty.
This particular book and video rely on the recipient's being a fluent
English speaker.  I would be inclined to send her different ones with very
few words and lots of photos or footage (like the Texas Infant Cues video
which I love), but I am worried that this might seem offensive to her.
I suppose I could always go the direct route and go see her and ask if
those materials would make her feel too shy.
I would really love to talk to someone more familiar with Chinese language
and culture, and maybe even match this mother up with a "big sister" in
case she has no contemporaries who have breastfed here.
Suggestions?
Resources?  All I've found so far is a booklet Kay Hoover wrote, put out by
the Phila. Dept. of Public Health, that will apparently cost $25.  Fine if
I could use the unlimited copying permission, but in this area that's not a
plus.  Maybe my hospital or the patient's physician will spring for it anyway.

I'm nomail, so please send me a reply privately as well as posting to the list.
Thank you so much!

Elise
in the wilds of New Hampshire, well outside Boston bedroom-community range


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