do your research before the arrival of the new one
set your goals and how you intend to achive them
ask your paediatrician the questions before you leave the hospital
lay YOUR rules down for the elders and caregiver/confinement lady before the arrival of the baby - when to give their advise, how to give their advise. A good strategy will be "we will ask when we need help".. OR "please channel advise to the father as I will be tired" OR before the arrival of the baby, get all the advise from EVERYONE and pen them all down so they all know you have taken their advise and they feel better. You now have a wealth of tips.. if there are conflicting ones - then both do not work, if there some suspicious ones discuss them with the paediatrician etc. FInally use the tips that are practical and safe.
Generally, having worked in may continents with many diverse culture, I have seen all the babies thrive and do well. This only means particular culture based tips are probably of little health value.
Let the mummy rest at night - this is the most negative advise towards successful breastfeeding. Mummy and baby are one unit. The initiation of breastfeeding depends very much on the supple demand axis. If the breast is the only supply it will have to produce. Interrupting the cycle with "rest" will delay breastfeeding and indeed even jeapordize it as the baby is fed by bottle during this "rest". Baby's stomach which should just slowly be expanding according to the supply now is expanded artificially with "ease" beyond the breast supply amount. The next breastfeeding is now a challenge as the stomach has distended and "remembers" the previous new "setting".
Bottle feeding creates nipple confusion - the baby has options now - the nipple or the bottle. Guess which will trump.
Alcohol in cooking for moms in confinement - this is of particular concern. The amount of alcohol put into meals varies. The number of alcohol based meals taken per day varies. If the mom feels tipsy after alcohol-laced soups then it is too much. Breastfeeding moms are still discouraged from taking alcoholic beverages especially during exclusive breastfeeding period. Your baby should not be exposed to any amounts of alcohol especially in the first 4 months of exclusive breastfeeding.
