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Objective: to examine the perceptions and experience of breast-feeding practices among Thai women who are now living in Australia., Design: ethnographic interviews and participant observation among Thai women in Australia., Setting: Melbourne Metropolitan Area,Victoria, Australia., Findings: Thai women see breast milk as the most valuable food for newborn babies and young children. Breast milk is seen as 'human milk', while infant formula is referred to as 'animal milk'. Breast feeding is seen as beneficial not only to babies' health, but also to the mother's health. Women consume certain foods such as drinking hot water and consuming hot soup during the confinement period as a way to ensure breast milk production. Women appear to know that 'breast is best', but some lack accurate knowledge about breast feeding. They also receive inaccurate information regarding feeding practices from health professionals., Implications for Practice: there is no doubt that Thai women see that 'breast is best', therefore, the main message for those involved in giving breast-feeding advice is to 'make it easy for women to do it'. Only then can health services and care be made more meaningful to the many women who have decided to breast feed their babies in their new country.

Objective: To identify the perceptions and experience of pregnancy care, labour and birth of Thai women in Melbourne, Australia., Design: An ethnographic interview and participant observation with women in relation to pregnancy, labour and birth., Setting: Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Victoria, Australia., Participants: 30 Thai women who are now living in Melbourne., Findings: Thai women saw antenatal care as an important aspect of their pregnancy and sought care as soon as they suspected they were pregnant. They were more concerned about the well-being of their babies than their own health, therefore they attended all antenatal appointments. In general, these women were satisfied with care during labour, but some also had negative experiences with their caregivers and hospital routine. When asked to compare maternity services between Thailand and Australia, most of the women believed that services in Australia were better. However, women who had had good experiences of childbirth in Thailand, tended to have negative feelings about the Australian experience. There was also evidence in this study that most of these Thai women did not receive adequate information about care., Implications for Practice: Women's perceptions and experiences of antenatal care, labour and birth deserve attention, if appropriate and sensitive care is to be provided to women in Australia and elsewhere. It is only when women's voices are heard in all aspects of health-care delivery that we may see better and appropriate health services for women in childbirth.

The health of a Hmong woman had been deteriorating since she underwent caesarean section. She believes that her ill health is caused by her soul leaving her body during general anaesthesia. A caesarean was essential for the survival of the fetus, but it could have been better managed. The situation might have been prevented if the cultural beliefs and practices of the Hmong had been taken into account. Nevertheless, the agreement of the hospital to a soul calling ceremony in the operating theatre and the concerns expressed by hospital staff about her well-being are positive aspects, showing that mainstream health services can provide culturally sensitive care to consumers if they are informed of these cultural beliefs and practices.