After cradling an hours-old baby in her arms, Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday that America could learn from this former Soviet bloc state about taking care of new mothers and infants.
The first lady, wrapping up a two-day visit to Estonia, toured a women's clinic that delivers one-sixth of the nation's babies. In a day designed to make good television footage, she later danced beneath a thatched roof with Estonians dressed in traditional clothes.At the hospital, Hillary Clinton noted the average mother's stay after birth is three days, compared to a one-day limit by many U.S. insurance companies.
Reiterating her support for laws that require more flexibility from insurance companies, the first lady said, "I want to see the decision-making ability put back in the hands of doctors and nurses."
President Clinton asked Congress in May to guarantee a 48-hour hospital stay for new mothers.
The first lady also said she was impressed with a program here that sends midwives into homes to check up on new mothers and babies. Though some U.S. insurance policies provide home visits, the practice is not widespread.
Hillary Clinton said home visits can spot medical problems before they become serious and costly.
The first lady suggested that she would continue pressing for incremental changes.