Cross-Cultural Perspectives on breastfeeding Essay

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on breastfeeding - Essay Example Unlike Iran that promotes breast milk substitutes, the Australian government encourages infant milk formula, baby foods, baby juices, bottles, and teats. In addition, the government of Australia does not subsidize the antenatal care classes of mothers. Thus, while Iranian mothers get their antenatal care classes for free, those in Australia have to pay at least $12.50 per class. Moreover, the Australian government do not have legislation that mandates providing paid maternity leave for breastfeeding mothers. In addition, Iran strictly follows the suggestions of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the optimization of breastfeeding practices in the hospital. This may have resulted from the training the Iranian health care professionals (HCPs) undergo in the area of lactation. Such training is neglected in Australia, and only a few Australian HCPs undergo sufficient training on lactation and breastfeeding. As such, vital steps for breastfeeding like the routine initiation of s kin-to-skin contact by rooming in of the baby, and no food or drink other than breast milk are not efficiently passed through from experts to mothers. Upon release from the hospital, Iranian HCPs visit mothers newly released from the hospital at regular intervals post partum.