Regarding "trampling on cultural beliefs when they stray
from healthy practices" ... we must remember that we belong
to a sub-culture breastfeeding specialists and we hold DEAR
certain beliefs that we believe are substantiated by "medical
research" yet another cultural system. It would be of great import to gain
a deeper understanding of ther origin of the avoidance of cloostrum...
in the past did a relative nurse the newborn to "bond with it"
in case of maternal death? did feeding from a well established milk
supply allow for a better infant outcome ie, less jaundice, better
weight stability, training of the newborn to breasts full of milk
so that baby take to the mother easilt when her milk"comes in"?
Per haps not nursing in the first 2-3 days is npot to avoiud
colustrum...but to gain something else.  Unfortunately, the
ols way of doing it has been relplaced with a bottle of formula.
All of this discussion gets back to my personal belief that ALL behavior has meaning, that
most behaviors are meant to enhance the well being of the sprcies
and that as practioners, we must tread with great caution and respect
in the culture of those we attempt to help. Please forgive my AWFUL
.....................................
Anne Andrianos, MSN, IBCLC
4340 Young Road, Syracuse, NY 13215
(315) 492-6437
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