The newborn is treated gently and birthed into a semi-dark, warm, and quiet environment. If the baby is not breathing well then submerge into a cold bath. Postpartum care would include massage, walking, keeping mother s upper body elevated, and heat treatments. Nursing would be on demand. The mother and infant would always be close-during the day the infant is carried and at night sleeps with the mother.
Infant massage is used.
Weaning occurs gradually. The average nursing period is listed as two to three years with some cultures nursing substantially longer. One culture, Blackfeet of the North American Plains, nursed until six years of age. The author notes that there is much that modern society can learn from the wisdom of our ancestors. Current childbirth practices can be altered to include this wisdom without loosing the benefits of technology and in most cases the technology would not be necessary if the wisdom is used.