On March 8, Laurie Wheeler asked:
>"what do people in other
> countries and other cultures do? Do they use aids like this or do they
> just put baby to breast? Does the positioning usually work, or  need to
> be fixed? Does the baby instinctively latch well most of the time? Is
> there someone (doula?) in the village to check the positioning and the
> latch? Or do we have to do this because of so much intervention
> (medicalization and artificial contraptions) nowadays?"

It has been my opinion that in countries where breastfeeding is the norm,
mothers don't need to be "taught" how to position a baby correctly, or how
to identify a good latch-on. They have been exposed to women breastfeeding
their young; they have seen their mothers, aunts, sisters, and neighbors
all breastfeeding. They assimilate the skills for breastfeeding much like
we assimilate the skill of maneuvering through a crowded mall, you watch
what other people do and, if it works, follow their lead. This may not be
the best comparison, but you get the idea.
Mary A. Banaszewski, RN, Lactation Specialist
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