I just found this interesting information about why Ehiopians remove a
baby's uvula.

http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/ethiopian_refugees.htm
>The uvula is believed to put infants at risk for suffocation, hence
is excised in many Ethiopians/Eritreans.<

On the same page was some other information about birth and breastfeeding:

>Among rural people, pregnancy is thought to be a time of increased
vulnerability for the mother. The fetus is also at risk for harm from
evil spirits and sorcery. In Ethiopia/Eritrea, most deliveries are
performed by a midwife or female family members. In the West,
Ethiopians/Eritrean women prefer female physicians. Some feel that
Western physicians are too quick to perform Cesarean sections and
attempt to prevent such intervention by waiting as long as possible to
go to the hospital for delivery.

Some women practice a brief symbolic rejection of the infant for the
discomfort and pain caused by pregnancy and delivery. After delivery,
the mother may stay in the home for two-six weeks. Breast-feeding (for
up to three years) is the norm in Ethiopia and also is practiced in
the U.S., but for a shorter time. Many mothers introduce other foods
at about four months.<


norma

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]