Cultural Practices and Breastfeeding: Honoring Traditions, Supporting Families

Breastfeeding is a universal practice — yet the way it’s approached, supported, and talked about varies greatly across cultures. As a lactation consultant, understanding these traditions isn’t just about cultural curiosity — it’s about providing care that respects families’ values while blending evidence-based guidance with ancestral wisdom¹.

🌿 Traditional Beliefs Around Breastfeeding

In many cultures, breastfeeding is more than a feeding method — it’s a rite of passage, a spiritual bond, and a community-centered act of care.

• In parts of India, colostrum has historically been viewed by some families as impure or harmful and is sometimes discarded, delaying early breastfeeding initiation. However, breastfeeding itself is often prolonged, with support for extended nursing relationships being culturally accepted².

• In several African communities, shared breastfeeding or wet nursing by female relatives was traditionally practiced. Breast milk is considered powerful and essential to infant health — with exclusive breastfeeding often being a norm well before international public health campaigns emphasized its benefits³.

• In Latin American cultures, the practice of la cuarentena — a 40-day postpartum rest period — is rooted in Indigenous and Catholic traditions and emphasizes healing, bonding, and breastfeeding⁴.

• In East Asian traditions, such as zuo yuezi in China and sanhujori in Korea, postpartum confinement includes specific foods and rest aimed at maternal recovery and enhancing lactation⁵. Herbal soups and teas are often used to promote milk production, though not all are supported by clinical evidence.

These beliefs reflect deep-rooted wisdom and familial continuity — even when they differ from contemporary Western medical recommendations.

🔍 Bridging Tradition and Modern Evidence

Some traditional practices align beautifully with modern lactation science — like frequent nursing, skin-to-skin contact, and extended breastfeeding⁶. Others, such as avoiding colostrum or using herbal galactagogues without clinical oversight, may contradict current evidence or carry risks⁷.

As lactation consultants, the goal is not to correct but to collaborate. When we take time to understand the meaning behind traditions, we can offer support that respects culture while ensuring safety and effectiveness. For example:

• If a parent is hesitant to offer colostrum, I might share how this “first milk” is packed with antibodies and acts as a natural vaccine — while asking what messages they received about it.

• If a family is preparing herbal teas or broths to enhance milk supply, we can look at ingredients together to ensure compatibility with medications or allergies — and discuss evidence behind different galactagogues.

This respectful, two-way dialogue creates trust — and builds a care plan that truly supports the whole parent.

💬 Culturally Responsive Lactation Support

Supporting breastfeeding means more than talking about supply and latch. It means honoring each family’s background, language, and lived experience.

Culturally responsive care means being mindful of how feeding decisions are shaped by family elders, faith communities, immigration history, and access to support. It means using inclusive language, asking open-ended questions, and never assuming that one way is “best” for everyone⁸.

Whether you were raised to believe breastfeeding is sacred, felt pressure to formula-feed, or had no guidance at all — your story is valid. And your choices deserve informed, nonjudgmental support.

If you’re a new parent holding onto cultural or family beliefs about feeding that you’re unsure about sharing — you’re not alone. Many parents worry about being judged, dismissed, or misunderstood. But your traditions matter. Sharing your full story — including family practices, postpartum rituals, or herbal remedies — helps your lactation consultant give you the safest, most supportive care possible.

It’s okay to ask questions when choosing a lactation consultant. Try asking:

• “Have you worked with families from different cultural backgrounds?”

• “How do you approach traditional practices that may differ from medical guidelines?”

• “Are you open to learning about how my culture views breastfeeding?”

  
  

You deserve care that feels not only expert — but respectful and affirming, too.

About Me

Hi, I’m Jayme Lindsey — a Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and postpartum doula. I’ve spent years supporting families through the early days of parenthood, and I’m passionate about providing compassionate, evidence-based lactation care. Through my practice, Lindsey Lactation LLC, I offer in-home support in the Greater Hartford, CT area and virtual visits nationwide. My goal is to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported every step of the way. You can learn more about my services here, or book a visit through The Lactation Network (TLN) — many families qualify for fully covered consults through insurance.

The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, pediatrician, or a qualified lactation consultant with any questions you may have regarding your health or the health of your baby. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.

📚 References

1. Gross TT, Davis M, Anderson AK, Hall J, Navarro X, Lindsey L. Long-term breastfeeding in African American mothers: a cultural perspective. J Hum Lact. 2017;33(3):520–529. doi:10.1177/0890334417693202

2. Choudhary N, Sitaraman S. Beliefs and practices regarding colostrum among mothers of newborns in a rural area of India. J Clin Neonatol. 2013;2(4):187–190. doi:10.4103/2249-4847.125880

3. Pradeilles R, Perry A, Rooney C, et al. Barriers and facilitators to infant feeding in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. Matern Child Nutr. 2022;18(Suppl 1):e13337. doi:10.1111/mcn.13337

4. López G, Castañeda SF, Rodriguez CJ, et al. Postpartum practices of Latina mothers: La Cuarentena. Health Care Women Int. 2019;40(7-9):774–789. doi:10.1080/07399332.2019.1594573

5. Su M, Xu X, Gao C, et al. Cultural practices regarding postpartum recovery and childrearing among Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean mothers in the US. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):315. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03010-1

6. Moore ER, Bergman N, Anderson GC, Medley N. Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;11:CD003519. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub4

7. Bazzano AN, Taub L, Oberhelman RA, et al. Herbal medicine use and the management of childhood diarrhea in rural Sierra Leone. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;183:112–120. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.039

8. Chapman DJ, Pérez-Escamilla R. Breastfeeding among minority women: moving from risk factors to interventions. Adv Nutr. 2012;3(1):95–104. doi:10.3945/an.111.001016