Adding Native American traditions to labor and delivery leads to happy patient experiences

St. George Regional Hospital’s Brittany Dayzie-Nez, a patient care technician in the Mom and Baby unit, regularly interacts with mothers and expectant families. She noticed families bringing in blankets, bibs, and booties for their newborns.?

What she didn’t notice was a cradleboard — a common baby carrier in Native American communities. Being of Navajo descent, Brittany knows firsthand how important cradleboards are for expectant Native American families. ??

“Generations of women used cradleboards to cradle their babies while working in the cornfields, herding sheep, and riding on horseback,” Brittany said. ??

In many Navajo and Paiute tribes, cradleboards are still frequently used, usually to keep babies safe while they sleep. While some are passed down from generation to generation, families can also purchase a cradleboard. ??

“I grew up without the traditions,” Brittany said. “But when it came time for me to have kids, I wanted to learn more.” She spoke with her mom and other relatives and educated herself on cradleboards so she could use one when she gave birth to her two sons.??

Brittany found the cradleboard experience amazing. “It’s a baby’s whole life for the first year,” she said. “It protects and essentially molds a baby into a healthy, strong-willed person.”?

Brittany wanted other moms to have the same great experience. So, she got to work. First, she talked to her leader about Native American traditions and educating others. “She encouraged me to share more about Navajo traditions at the Local Equity Committee (LEC) meeting,” Brittany said.??

Kimmy Holman, RN, nurse manager for the Labor and Delivery team at St. George, attended the LEC meeting and reached out to Brittany shortly after. Brittany came to Kimmy’s unit to show her a birth sash belt.?

Kimmy shared pictures of Brittany’s birth sash belt and shared more information with her team. The centuries-old traditions were implemented for expectant and post-partum mothers in fall 2023. Today, Indigenous women can place their cradleboards inside the cribs during their hospital stay — thanks to six months of Brittany’s advocacy and collaboration with her hospital-based LEC and others.?

“The most important thing is a healthy mom and baby, and I would add a good experience,” Kimmy said. “If we can facilitate that experience by addressing the traditions, customs, and needs of the mom and family, let’s do it! I want my teams to feel comfortable asking expectant families about any traditions and needs they have.”?

Brittany agreed. “We’re bringing awareness and education that our Native American moms and babies need so they have a connection to our culture, traditions, and history.”??

Placenta burial?

Caregivers in Labor and Delivery settings might also get requests from Indigenous mothers to save the umbilical cord and placenta.??

“The umbilical cord is the lifeline between mother and baby,” said Brittany. “After birth, the umbilical cord is buried beneath a place of parental aspiration in hopes of connecting the baby with a new lifeline, which can influence future academic goals, career choices, life decisions, and overall well-being. Traditionally, the placenta is buried on our homeland protected by our four sacred mountains.”?

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Other traditions?

These are two examples, but there are other traditions Indigenous mothers might embrace.?

Brittany said, “I have noticed an increase in number of patients who are embracing and practicing some of the Navajo traditions during their hospital stay. It's truly a rewarding experience to see other Navajos embracing our traditions outside the reservation.”?