Babies and Breasts

At home, I consider myself a resource in the areas of breastfeeding and baby wearing, but I am getting schooled here, that’s for sure.

;

Every Malawian mother breastfeeds her babies and it is a regular occurrence to see toddlers nursing. Even HIV positive mothers do so. The medical community demands that a woman undergoing antiretroviral therapy breastfeed her baby for a minimum of two years. I had a conversation with the interns at the hospital about the rates of breastfeeding in the U.S. and they were appalled.

;

mark witnessed one tired mother in the hospital dozing next to her squalling newborn. The attending physician walked over, whapped the mother on the arm, pushed the baby Up to mom’s breast and admonished ‘Feed that baby! Look, you have huge breasts filled with milk. It is for your baby, not for you!’

;

I have seen one stroller since we arrived in Malawi. I saw it everyday in a stall at the market when I was shopping for meals. It never sold in the month we were in mangochi.

;

Amayis wear their babies in their chitengas, a fabulous piece of cloth that is worn as a wrap-around skirt, blanket, dress, baby carrier, and more. Sometimes older siblings wear babies. More than once, I have seen a ‘big’ sister or brother carrying a sibling that had to be more than half her or his size.  

;

;As UI anticipated, this trip is turning out to be quite the cultural exchange. It has certainly taught me that we don’t put nearly enough responsibility on our children at home. As soon as we’re stateside again, I’m putting Grant in charge of all food preparation and Lydia is taking over baby care. Iris will be responsible for all the chickens I plan to acquire. She’s quite enamored with the ‘Uncucus.’’

;-)

;I love this sign from the mangochi hospital outside the laboring ward. I’d love to see something similar in the States, though the all-powerful formula lobby would surely find a way to get it removed.