I'm with April on this. Vesta you are wildly out of touch with current birthing practices and what is considered safe and hygienic at this point.
Ah so true, with my own first born I received a half dozen belly bands, A few of those horrid plastic pants to go over cloth diapers and not one pacifier. Last baby I delivered was about 26 or so years ago and it was my own grandson on a gurney in a hospital hall way.
Things go back and forth in style, we were told to lay infant on stomach for sleep and my kids now told to lay theirs on their back.
For me entering a hospital is like a trip to the future. I am fascinated with all the stuff technology has brought in, only thing I recognise is a stethoscope. I have not seen a mercury thermometer in YEARS, red end was for the bottom and green for the mouth.
The new awareness of germ prevention is an eye opener, Yet Nurses and doctors still wear rings and bracelets, a no-no when I was trained up. AND Boston General comes in at night and gives back rubs to those staying more then a couple days. This Riki stuff was unheard of back in my time, as was acupuncture. There may have been Hospitals that had this treatment but I never worked for one that did.
I feel like Rip Van Winkle when I visit someone in the hospital.