Pregnancy and birth in Minnesota's Hmong population: changing practices.

The arrival of the Hmong in Minnesota starting in the late 1970s brought many challenges to both an ancient way of life as well as to hospitals and clinics trying to care for these new refugees. For Hmong women who were new to the United States, their first encounter with the U.S. health care system was often during pregnancy and birth. This article summarizes how some of the perinatal practices of the Hmong evolved following their arrival in Minnesota as well as how providers adapted in order to provide their Hmong patients with culturally sensitive care.