The forty‐day rest period and infant feeding practices among Negev Bedouin Arab women in Israel

Abstract

Four hundred and twelve Bedouin Arab women were interviewed within 48 hours of delivering a newborn in 1982 and two months later to examine the effect of social support during the forty-day postpartum rest period on the incidence of exclusive breast feeding at two months. Whereas the distribution of infant feeding practices at two months did not differ among women with and without support during the "forty days," the number of days of help during the "forty days" was significantly associated with type of feeding at two months. The longer the duration of help, the greater were the odds of maintaining exclusive breast feeding after adjustment for covariates by multinomial logistic regression analysis. The association between duration of help and infant feeding practices at two months was modified by the interview month and the feeding practices of the respondents' primary social supports. More respondents with infants who reached two months of age in May and June were exclusively breast feeding than respondents with infants who reached two months in the hot, dry months of July and August. Also, respondents with sisters-in-law who breast fed alone or in combination with the bottle were feeding their infants in the same way after adjustment for covariates. Given the beneficial effects of breast feeding on infant health and development, these findings identify potential avenues of intervention for programs promoting breast feeding.

Exclusive breastfeeding during the 40-day rest period and at six months in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study

“…To our knowledge, this study is the first in the Middle East to examine the prevalence and predictors of EBF during the 40-day rest period. From a nationally a Data are presented as adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 1 The reference category is Mixed feeding; 2 The reference category is EBOT EBF Exclusive breastfeeding; EBOT Exclusive bottle feeding representative survey in Lebanon, we report a prevalence of EBF of 41.5% at 40 days and 12. 3% at 6 months.…”

“…Many societies in the Middle East observe a 40-day postpartum period of rest, seclusion, and ritual that helps establish and maintain breastfeeding [1,2] and protects the mother and newborn from illnesses [3]. During this 40-day rest period, the mother often stays at home and receives help with household chores and congratulatory visits from related women and neighbors [3].…”

“…For both Muslims and Christians, the 40 days following birth coincide with the period of vaginal discharge resulting from involution of the uterus [4][5][6]. Despite being closely linked to infant feeding practices, few studies have examined the 40-day rest period in relation to total and exclusive breastfeeding [1,2].…”

Breast feeding twins and high multiples

“…When examined among the Negev Beduin Arab Women in Israel (a society in which the women multitask continuously), it was shown that when ''help'' was available, the odds of maintaining exclusive breast feeding were greater. 29 N Drinking at least 1800 ml fluids-''in order to increase milk production, you must drink more''-is a common piece of advice given to nursing women. In a carefully planned, crossover study of breastfeeding mothers, an increase of at least 25% in fluids intake had no effect on mean daily milk production.…”

Parent-offspring conflict and the cultural ecology of breast-feeding

“…Social environments have also been shown to be important predictors of breast-feeding behavior. Extended kin networks can provide support for breast-feeding mothers by relieving them of their usual household and economic obligations (Forman et al 1990). Gender relations also have an impact, as in Zimbabwe, where a woman cannot terminate breast-feeding without consulting her husband or mother-in-law (Cosminsky et al 1993).…”