Motherhood, wet-nursing and nation: nineteenth-century Brazilian medical perspectives.

This paper explores the viewpoints of nineteenth-century Brazilian physicians regarding women's roles as the 'propagators of the race'. It emphasises their perspectives on reproduction, breast feeding, and the involvement of enslaved wet nurses in a society grappling with significant paradoxes and conflicts as it sought to embrace modernisation. It also examines various aspects of women's health and childcare, encompassing topics like miscarriage and puériculture Through an analysis of medical discourse, this paper underscores physicians' profound influence in shaping societal assumptions surrounding maternal roles in Brazil. These understandings were instrumental in shaping the expectations for a 'modern nation', where racial considerations intertwined with broader discourses about female bodies. Drawing on diverse sources from the latter half of the nineteenth century, including newspapers and medical records, this paper also highlights the lived experiences of mothers-both tangible realities and imagined constructs. It emphasises how these experiences became integrated in ideological debates that centred on maternity, race, nationhood and modernity within a South Atlantic context. Conducting a discourse analysis of published medical sources, the paper finally uncovers the intricate interplay between reproductive politics, biological risk perceptions and national defence. It dissects how these elements coalesced into the language of biopolitics, moulding regulations and institutional control over the bodies of both white and black women. This exploration aims to enrich discussions about the intricate dynamics shaping institutional actions within the realms of reproductive health and national interests.

Tracking breastfeeding and weaning practices in ancient populations by combining carbon, nitrogen and oxygen stable isotopes from multiple non-adult tissues.

This paper explores the potential of combining different isotope systems from different tissues to improve resolution when reconstructing breastfeeding and weaning practices (BWP) in archaeology. Additionally, we tested whether changes in diet can be detected in deciduous teeth. Rib collagen samples from 22 infants/children from the archaeological site of Bacuranao I (Mayabeque, Cuba) were processed for nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13Cco) stable isotopes and assessed using a Bayesian model (WARN). In addition, enamel of 48 teeth from 30 infants/children were analyzed for oxygen (δ18Oen) and carbon (δ13Cen) stable isotopes. Data revealed that the timing of weaning cannot be characterized precisely by analyzing either δ18O or δ15N. While a depletion in both δ15N and δ13Cco is only evident after one year, the WARN model suggested that the weaning process started at around 3 months and ended around 1.7 years. Most teeth were enriched in δ18Oen compared to deciduous incisors, suggesting a breastfeeding signal. However, a high variability in δ18O was found between similar teeth from the same individuals. Higher enrichment in δ18Oen, and variability, was observed in tissues formed during the first six months of life. A δ13C enrichment of 1.0‰ was observed among deciduous teeth and ribs. While most individuals enriched in δ15N showed enrichment in δ13C, the δ18O values were more variable. Our data suggests that stable isotopes of deciduous teeth, especially δ13Cen, can be used to detect changes in diet during the weaning process. It is also possible that the δ18O enrichment observed in M1 is influenced by the effects of cooking techniques on weaning foods. The combination of multiple isotope systems and tissues overcome some of the limitations posed by single tissue approaches.

Black Nurse, White Milk: Breastfeeding, Slavery, and Abolition in 19th-Century Brazil.

Brazil imported more enslaved Africans than any other slave-owning society in the Americas, and it was the last country in the western hemisphere to abolish the institution. Whereas many enslaved persons toiled on plantations and in mines, urban slavery was also prominent, with enslaved men carrying coffee through the streets and enslaved women washing clothes. One gendered aspect of urban slavery in 19th-century Brazil included slave owners renting out enslaved women as wet nurses to breastfeed the children of elite families. This article reviews medical dissertations, debates, and journal articles, as well as advertisements for wet nurses, showing that physicians believed that enslaved women's milk was both nutritionally and morally inferior to white women's milk. In the latter half of the 19th century, physicians viewed abolition as the only answer to what they deemed the increasingly "dangerous" practice of enslaved wet nursing, which they believed was the root cause of high infant mortality rates across races and classes. Readers should consider the ethical dilemmas of the practice of enslaved wet nursing, which often resulted in the violent separation of mother and child.

[Biopolitics for breastfeeding: an analysis of the global and local movements and their links to social development discourses]. / Biopolíticas do aleitamento materno: uma análise dos movimentos global e local e suas articulações com os discursos do desenvolvimento social.

This study aimed to analyze the links between the production of biopolitics for breastfeeding and social development discourses after the post-war period, with a view towards problematizing the nature/culture dichotomy by which breastfeeding is often operationalized. The study adopts an anthropological perspective to compare biopolitics for breastfeeding with the changes in developmentalist discourses. The analysis of global movements by these biopolitics helped explain how a network of distinct entities (e.g., government agencies, multilateral bodies, international development agencies, and nongovernmental organizations) have shaped breastfeeding over time in keeping with the prevailing developmentalist discourses and practices. Initially, the developmentalist discourse focused on industrialization and modernization, and breastfeeding was not the focus of public policies. In the 1970s and 1980s, when the developmentalist discourse shifted the focus to child malnutrition and infant mortality, the first global biopolitics for breastfeeding were launched, and breastfeeding practice began to be operationalized as a means to fight these health problems. Meanwhile, the contemporary social development discourse also evokes a process of individual development. Simultaneously, biopolitics for breastfeeding rely on various technologies for this purpose. The conclusion is that developmentalist discourses act as a sociocultural reference by which breastfeeding is operationalized, and thus that breastfeeding is not only a natural process, but also a political, economic, and social one.

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar as articulações entre a produção das biopolíticas de amamentação e os discursos produzidos sobre desenvolvimento social após o período pós-guerra com vistas à problematização da dicotomia natureza/cultura mediante a qual a amamentação é frequentemente operada. Numa perspectiva antropológica, examinaram-se as biopolíticas de amamentação comparativamente às transformações nos discursos desenvolvimentistas. O exame dos movimentos globais realizadas por essas biopolíticas permitiu compreender como uma rede de entidades variadas (como órgãos de governo, organismos multilaterais, agências internacionais de desenvolvimento e organizações não-governamentais) vem configurando ao longo do tempo a amamentação em conformidade com os discursos e práticas desenvolvimentistas em vigor. Inicialmente, o discurso desenvolvimentista girava em torno da industrialização e modernização, e a amamentação não era foco de atenção das políticas públicas. Nas décadas de 1970 e 1980, quando o discurso desenvolvimentista passou a focar a desnutrição e a mortalidade infantil, têm início as primeiras biopolíticas globais de amamentação e a prática da amamentação passa a ser operada como um meio de combater tais males. Já o discurso de desenvolvimento social em jogo na contemporaneidade evoca também um processo de desenvolvimento individual. Simultaneamente, as biopolíticas de amamentação recorrem a tecnologias variadas com este propósito. Conclui-se que os discursos desenvolvimentistas atuam como uma referência sociocultural com base na qual a amamentação é operada, o que permite dizer que a amamentação é uma prática tão natural quanto política, econômica e social.

El objetivo de este artículo ha sido analizar los vínculos entre la generación de biopolíticas en lactancia materna y los discursos existentes sobre desarrollo social, tras el período de posguerra, relacionados con la problematización de la dicotomía naturaleza/cultura, a través de la cual transita frecuentemente lactancia materna. Desde una perspectiva antropológica, se examinaron comparativamente biopolíticas en lactancia materna con transformaciones surgidas en los discursos desarrollistas. El examen de los movimientos globales, realizados por esas biopolíticas, permitió comprender cómo una red de entidades variadas (como órganos de gobierno, organismos multilaterales, agencias internacionales de desarrollo y organizaciones no gubernamentales) han considerado a lo largo del tiempo la lactancia materna, según los discursos y prácticas desarrollistas en vigor. Inicialmente, el discurso desarrollista giraba en torno a la industrialización y modernización, y la lactancia materna no era el centro de atención de las políticas públicas. En las décadas de los 1970 y 1980, cuando el discurso desarrollista pasó a centrarse en la desnutrición y la mortalidad infantil, comenzaron las primeras biopolíticas globales en lactancia materna y la práctica de la lactancia pasó a ser tratada como un medio de combatir tales males. Ya el discurso de desarrollo social en boga en la contemporaneidad evoca también un proceso de desarrollo individual. Simultáneamente, las biopolíticas en lactancia materna exploran tecnologías variadas con este propósito. Se concluye que los discursos desarrollistas actúan como una referencia sociocultural, basándose en cómo es operada la lactancia materna, lo que permite considerarla una práctica tan natural, como política, económica y social.

Let's talk about stress, baby! Infant-feeding practices and stress in the ancient Atacama desert, Northern Chile.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The transition to an agricultural economy is often presumed to involve an increase in female fertility related to changes in weaning practice. In particular, the availability of staple crops as complementary foods is hypothesized to allow earlier weaning in agricultural populations. In this study, our primary aim is to explore whether this model fits the agricultural transition in the Atacama Desert using incremental isotopic analysis. A secondary aim of this study is to identify isotopic patterns relating to weaning, and assess how these may be differentiated from those relating to early life stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We use incremental isotopic analysis of dentine to examine changes in δ15 N and δ13 C values from infancy and childhood in sites of the Arica region (n = 30). We compare individuals from pre-agricultural and agricultural phases to establish isotopic patterns and relate these patterns to maternal diet, weaning trajectory and physiological stress. RESULTS: We find that there is no evidence for systematic temporal or geographic variation in incremental isotopic results. Instead, results from all time periods are highly variable, with weaning completed between 1.5 and 3.5 years. Characteristics of the incremental profiles indicate that both in utero and postnatal stress were a common part of the infant experience in the Atacama. DISCUSSION: In the Atacama Desert it appears that the arrival of agricultural crops did not result in uniform shifts in weaning behavior. Instead, infant and child diet seems to have been dictated by the broad-spectrum diets of the mothers, perhaps as a way of mitigating the stresses of the harsh desert environment.

Biopolíticas do aleitamento materno: uma análise dos movimentos global e local e suas articulações com os discursos do desenvolvimento social / Biopolitics for breastfeeding: an analysis of the global and local movements and their links to social development discourses / Biopolíticas en lactancia materna: análisis de movimientos globales y locales y sus interrelaciones con discursos de desarrollo social

Resumo: Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar as articulações entre a produção das biopolíticas de amamentação e os discursos produzidos sobre desenvolvimento social após o período pós-guerra com vistas à problematização da dicotomia natureza/cultura mediante a qual a amamentação é frequentemente operada. Numa perspectiva antropológica, examinaram-se as biopolíticas de amamentação comparativamente às transformações nos discursos desenvolvimentistas. O exame dos movimentos globais realizadas por essas biopolíticas permitiu compreender como uma rede de entidades variadas (como órgãos de governo, organismos multilaterais, agências internacionais de desenvolvimento e organizações não-governamentais) vem configurando ao longo do tempo a amamentação em conformidade com os discursos e práticas desenvolvimentistas em vigor. Inicialmente, o discurso desenvolvimentista girava em torno da industrialização e modernização, e a amamentação não era foco de atenção das políticas públicas. Nas décadas de 1970 e 1980, quando o discurso desenvolvimentista passou a focar a desnutrição e a mortalidade infantil, têm início as primeiras biopolíticas globais de amamentação e a prática da amamentação passa a ser operada como um meio de combater tais males. Já o discurso de desenvolvimento social em jogo na contemporaneidade evoca também um processo de desenvolvimento individual. Simultaneamente, as biopolíticas de amamentação recorrem a tecnologias variadas com este propósito. Conclui-se que os discursos desenvolvimentistas atuam como uma referência sociocultural com base na qual a amamentação é operada, o que permite dizer que a amamentação é uma prática tão natural quanto política, econômica e social.

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the links between the production of biopolitics for breastfeeding and social development discourses after the post-war period, with a view towards problematizing the nature/culture dichotomy by which breastfeeding is often operationalized. The study adopts an anthropological perspective to compare biopolitics for breastfeeding with the changes in developmentalist discourses. The analysis of global movements by these biopolitics helped explain how a network of distinct entities (e.g., government agencies, multilateral bodies, international development agencies, and nongovernmental organizations) have shaped breastfeeding over time in keeping with the prevailing developmentalist discourses and practices. Initially, the developmentalist discourse focused on industrialization and modernization, and breastfeeding was not the focus of public policies. In the 1970s and 1980s, when the developmentalist discourse shifted the focus to child malnutrition and infant mortality, the first global biopolitics for breastfeeding were launched, and breastfeeding practice began to be operationalized as a means to fight these health problems. Meanwhile, the contemporary social development discourse also evokes a process of individual development. Simultaneously, biopolitics for breastfeeding rely on various technologies for this purpose. The conclusion is that developmentalist discourses act as a sociocultural reference by which breastfeeding is operationalized, and thus that breastfeeding is not only a natural process, but also a political, economic, and social one.

Resumen: El objetivo de este artículo ha sido analizar los vínculos entre la generación de biopolíticas en lactancia materna y los discursos existentes sobre desarrollo social, tras el período de posguerra, relacionados con la problematización de la dicotomía naturaleza/cultura, a través de la cual transita frecuentemente lactancia materna. Desde una perspectiva antropológica, se examinaron comparativamente biopolíticas en lactancia materna con transformaciones surgidas en los discursos desarrollistas. El examen de los movimientos globales, realizados por esas biopolíticas, permitió comprender cómo una red de entidades variadas (como órganos de gobierno, organismos multilaterales, agencias internacionales de desarrollo y organizaciones no gubernamentales) han considerado a lo largo del tiempo la lactancia materna, según los discursos y prácticas desarrollistas en vigor. Inicialmente, el discurso desarrollista giraba en torno a la industrialización y modernización, y la lactancia materna no era el centro de atención de las políticas públicas. En las décadas de los 1970 y 1980, cuando el discurso desarrollista pasó a centrarse en la desnutrición y la mortalidad infantil, comenzaron las primeras biopolíticas globales en lactancia materna y la práctica de la lactancia pasó a ser tratada como un medio de combatir tales males. Ya el discurso de desarrollo social en boga en la contemporaneidad evoca también un proceso de desarrollo individual. Simultáneamente, las biopolíticas en lactancia materna exploran tecnologías variadas con este propósito. Se concluye que los discursos desarrollistas actúan como una referencia sociocultural, basándose en cómo es operada la lactancia materna, lo que permite considerarla una práctica tan natural, como política, económica y social.

Isotopic reconstruction of the weaning process in the archaeological population of Canímar Abajo, Cuba: A Bayesian probability mixing model approach.

The general lack of well-preserved juvenile skeletal remains from Caribbean archaeological sites has, in the past, prevented evaluations of juvenile dietary changes. Canímar Abajo (Cuba), with a large number of well-preserved juvenile and adult skeletal remains, provided a unique opportunity to fully assess juvenile paleodiets from an ancient Caribbean population. Ages for the start and the end of weaning and possible food sources used for weaning were inferred by combining the results of two Bayesian probability models that help to reduce some of the uncertainties inherent to bone collagen isotope based paleodiet reconstructions. Bone collagen (31 juveniles, 18 adult females) was used for carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses. The isotope results were assessed using two Bayesian probability models: Weaning Ages Reconstruction with Nitrogen isotopes and Stable Isotope Analyses in R. Breast milk seems to have been the most important protein source until two years of age with some supplementary food such as tropical fruits and root cultigens likely introduced earlier. After two, juvenile diets were likely continuously supplemented by starch rich foods such as root cultigens and legumes. By the age of three, the model results suggest that the weaning process was completed. Additional indications suggest that animal marine/riverine protein and maize, while part of the Canímar Abajo female diets, were likely not used to supplement juvenile diets. The combined use of both models here provided a more complete assessment of the weaning process for an ancient Caribbean population, indicating not only the start and end ages of weaning but also the relative importance of different food sources for different age juveniles.

O cuidado das amas-de-leite e o protagonismo do negro na história da enfermagem: uma luta por equidade / The care of wet-nurses and the role of blacks in the history of nursing: a fight for fairness

Objetiva-se com esse estudo sistematizar referências relacionadas ao cuidado das amas-de-leite,ao racismo e ao legado deixado por grandes ícones negros da Enfermagem. Estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, realizado a partir de uma pesquisa integrativa. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2014. A técnica utilizada na pesquisa para obtenção dos dados foi por meio de um levantamento bibliográfico junto às bases de dados SciELO, Google Acadêmicoe EBSCO-HOST, que proporcionaram acesso aos periódicos e artigos científicos, a partir dos descritores: “aleitamento materno”, “cuidado da criança”, “história da enfermagem”. “racismo”,publicados em português, com recorte atemporal. Deve-se valorizar os diversos atores sociais que foram e constituem o conhecimento sobre o cuidado de Enfermagem, visando à emancipação do pensamento como forma de questionar o mundo, lutar contra preconceitos, iniquidades e injustiças.

As Semanas Mundiais de Aleitamento Materno: WABA - World Alliance for breast-feeding action

Em 1º de agosto de 1990, organizações não-governamentais e representantes de governos de 40 paises, incluindo o Brasil, reunidos em Florença, Itália, firmaram a Declaração de Innocenti. Os signatários se comprometeram a promover o aleitamento materno exclusivo nos primeiros quatro a seis meses de vida e a continuidade da amamentação até dois anos de idade ou mais...

Reflexión de la lactancia materna en Chile / Reflexion of breastfeeding in Chile

El artículo presenta una reflexión de la lactancia materna, cómo esta ha sido influenciada por los modelos socioculturales de las diferentes épocas, centrándose en la transformación que ha tenido en Chile y cómo ha sido considerado el rol de la mujer en la lactancia materna. Finalmente, se hace un llamado a reflexionar sobre cómo los profesionales de la salud estamos ejerciendo la responsabilidad profesional que nos compete en la promoción de la lactancia materna.

The paper presents a refl ection of breastfeeding, as it have been infl uenced by socio cultural models along the time, focusing on transformations that had in Chile has been regarded as the role of women in breastfeeding. Finally, a call to refl ect on how health professionals are exercising the their responsibility we compete in the promotion of The Breastfeeding.

Perigosas amas de leite: aleitamento materno, ciência e escravidão em A Mãi de Familia / Dangerous wet nurses: breastfeeding, science, and slavery in A Mãi de Familia

Examina de que modo, em A Mãi de Familia, jornal veiculado na Corte (1879-1888), a defesa do aleitamento materno esteve imbricada com questões relativas à escravidão. São analisados, em especial, artigos assinados pelo médico Carlos Costa, principal redator e fundador do periódico. Começando por apresentar o jornal, destaca-se a luta em prol do aleitamento materno como tema de grande relevância, visando educar a mulher para desempenhar satisfatoriamente a maternidade dentro dos parâmetros higiênicos. Discute-se, em seguida, como o fato de a maioria das amas de leite ser escrava influenciou na argumentação contra o aleitamento mercenário. Por fim, analisa-se um conto publicado no jornal, no qual são narradas as desventuras de uma ama de leite cativa.

The article examines how the defense of breastfeeding was intertwined with slavery-related issues in 'A Mãi de Familia', a newspaper that circulated in the city of Rio de Janeiro (1879-1888). A special focus of analysis are the articles signed by physician Carlos Costa, main editor and founder of the periodical. After introducing the newspaper, the text goes on to highlight the fight in favor of breastfeeding, which was a highly notable topic aimed at educating women to fulfill their maternal roles in accordance with hygienic parameters. It then discusses how the fact that most wet nurses were slaves influenced arguments against mercenary breastfeeding. Lastly, it analyzes a story published in the newspaper, which narrates the misfortunes of a captive wet nurse.

Lactancia natural: revisión bibliográfica / Natural breast feeding. Bibliographic Revision

Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sobre lactancia natural, abordando los antecedentes, lactancia materna en Latinoamérica y Cuba, consecuencias del abandono del amamantamiento exclusivo y promoción de la lactancia materna.(AU)

It was performed a bibliographic revision about Natural Breastfeeding, approaching the antecedents, maternal breastfeeding in Latin America and Cuba, consequences of giving up the exclusive breastfeeding and promotion of maternal breastfeeding.(EU)

Factores maternos y morbilidad del lactante asociado a la lactancia materna, Junio-Diciembre 2000

La leche materna es la mejor fuente nutritiva para el niño en los primeros 6 meses de vida, por tal motivo se realizó un estudio retrospectivo observacional entre junio y diciembre del año 2000 en 100 madres de niños nacidos en el municipio de Buey Arriba, que cumplían en esa etapa de 4 a 6 meses de edad, a las que se realizó una encuesta. Los datos se procesaron por el cálculo porcentual para conocer los factores maternos y las enfermedades del lactante que se asocian con la lactancia materna. Al analizar las características sociodemográficas se encontró que abandonaron la lactancia materna exclusiva antes de los 4 meses las madres adolescentes (36,4 por ciento), las trabajadoras (87,5 por ciento) y las que tenían nivel de escolaridad primario (100 por ciento); la morbilidad por enfermedad diarreica aguda (70 por ciento) y respiratoria aguda (75 por ciento) estuvo presente en los lactantes que recibieron leche artificial(AU)

Problematizando o aleitamento materno: visando uma prática consciente / Problematization the breastfeeding: targeting a conscious practice

Este estudo busca descrever a contribuição da metodologia problematizadora proposta por Bordenave, como método de apoio e incentivo às práticas de aleitamento materno às mulheres nutrizes. Participaram destes estudo 06 puérperas, dois esposos, a pesquisadora, a enfermeira e a pediatra do Centro de Saúde II Balneário - Florianópolis/SC. Durante os atendimentos programados foram identificados alguns temas (questões problemas) relacionados à prática do aleitamento materno. Os temas escolhidos após a análise dos diálogos, foram: presença de fissura mamilar e ingurgitamento mamário, dificuldade do bebê em relação a pega do mamilo; choro intenso relacionado ao leite fraco, desmame precoce relacionado ao choro intenso; presença de “alergia” no mamilo, presença de soluços no recém-nascido. Para a observação da realidade foram utilizadas a própria prática do aleitar representada pela nutriz durante os atendimentos, utilizando o diálogo participativo. Os pontos-chaves, objetos da problematização, foram identificados a partir dos temas buscando as questões que necessitavam ser resolvidas, de forma a poder incentivar a prática do aleitamento materno. Na fase de Teorização foram caracterizados, identificados e respeitados os conhecimentos das puérperas, subsidiados pelo uso de teoria, recursos didáticos e práticos, a fim de estimular a capacidade de pensar, refletir e aprender de cada puérpera e acompanhante. A fase de hipóteses de solução aconteceu de forma natural, durante os diálogos, quando as próprias puérperas planejavam como utilizariam em seu cotidiano os conhecimentos obtidos na reunião, avaliando o que poderia ser realizado na prática do aleitamento materno. A última fase do “arco” proposta por Bordenave, a aplicação à realidade, iniciada nos diálogos, foi realizada na maioria das vezes, em seus domicílios. A avaliação realizada pelas puérperas, após os diálogos, foi positiva, expressando satisfação em conversar, trocar experiências/conhecimentos e sobretudo elogiando a forma diferenciada de “abordagem”, que permitindo o diálogo, favoreceu a participação. Verificou-se existir grande potencial para a realização de trabalhos de educação em Saúde fundamentado na metodologia utilizada, junto as mulheres nutrizes, uma vez que a mesma propicia, o diálogo, favorece o desenvolvimento de uma consciência crítica, essencial para a tranformação da realidade. O uso desta metodologia permite ao enfermeiro, partilhar conhecimentos científicos com as puérperas, sem no entanto impingir nas próprias idéias e assim mostrar-se de maneira política e socialmente comprometida, com o direito à saúde da população.

This study search to describe the contibution of the problematic pedagogy proposal by Bordenave, as a supportive and incentive method to the practices of maternal nursing to women nourish. Six (06) puerperium , two husbands, the reseacher, the nurse and the pediatrician of the Health Center II Balneário participated in this study. During the schedule attendances some themes (problems subjects) related to the practice of maternal nursing were identified. The chosen ones, after a analysis of the dialogues, were: presence of nipple fissure and mammary ingurgitation , the baby's difficulty in order to attach the areola; intense crying associated to weak milk, precocious wean related to a intense cry'; presence of “allergy” in the nipple, presence of hipcup in the newborn. For the observation of reality it was used a own practice of maternal nursing represented by the nourish during the attendances, with a participative dialogue. The kev-points, objects of problematization, were identified from the themes looking for the subjects that needed to be resolved, in a way to motivate the practice of maternal nursing. On the teorization phase they were characterized, identidied and respected the knowledge of the puerperium, subsidized by the use of theory, didatic and practical resources, in order to stimulate the capacity to think, to reflect and to learn from each puerperium and companion. The hypotheses’ phase of solutions happened in a natural way, during the dialogues, when the own puerperium planed how they would use the knowledge obtained in the meeting on their daily tasks, evaluating what could be accomplished in the practice of maternal nursing. The last phase of the "arch” proposed by Bordenave, the application into reality, begun in the dialogues, was accomplished most of the time in their homes. The evaluation done by the puerperium after the dialogues was positive, expressing satisfaction in talking, exchanging experiences / knowledges and over all eulogizind the different way of “approach”, allowing the dialogue collaborating the puerperuim’s participations. It was checked a existence of a great potencial in doing educational works in Health based on the used methodology, with nursing women, once the same propitiates the dialogue, helps the development of a critical conscientiousness, essencial to the transformation of the reality. The use of this pedagogy allows the nurse to share scientific knowledge with the puerperium without however impose on their own ideas and in this way show in a political and social way compromised with the justice to the population’s health.