The video opens with Hudgens swaddling a makeshift baby, demonstrating a practice widely used in the U.S. Moments later, a midwife enters the room to take her for an X-ray. Hudgens greets her with, “Oh, hi. Are you my midwife?” But the midwife’s expression quickly shifts as she notices something amiss. With concern, she asks, “What are you doing?” Hudgens explains that she’s swaddling her baby, a familiar and comforting technique in American parenting. However, it’s clear that the midwife does not approve—sparking a cultural clash that took Hudgens by surprise.
Mom shares culture shock after giving birth in Sweden: 'You can't do that'
The mother realized that one of her practices was deemed dangerous to her baby.
No matter how much someone prepares, fully adapting to a new culture can be a challenge. At some point, gaps in knowledge will surface, and in those moments, having an understanding guide makes all the difference. Miranda Hudgens—known as @mirandapandz on TikTok—found herself in such a moment after giving birth in Sweden. Raised in the U.S., she was unfamiliar with certain Swedish childcare customs, leading to an awkward encounter with a midwife. She later recreated the experience on social media, leaving viewers stunned by what she learned.
Rather than addressing Hudgens directly, the midwife went to her fiancé and relayed her objections instead. He returned and told Hudgens, “You can’t do that to the baby anymore.” He added that the midwife had warned him that swaddling could kill the baby, a statement that completely took Hudgens aback. “We don’t do that to babies in this country,” he said, echoing the midwife’s sentiment.
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A 2021 study by Göran Wennergren explains that in Sweden, swaddling is generally discouraged due to concerns that it may increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This contrasts with the U.S., where swaddling is commonly recommended to help newborns feel secure, sleep comfortably, and prevent disturbances caused by the startle reflex.
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Having grown up in the U.S., Hudgens was unaware of these differing opinions on swaddling and simply did what came naturally to her. After doing further research, she ultimately decided to stop swaddling her baby. However, she was more affected by how the situation was handled rather than the advice itself. Instead of an open discussion, she felt dismissed, as everything was communicated through her fiancé rather than addressed to her directly.
Many viewers in the comments shared similar experiences. @candylover.emily wrote, “This happened to me too, they told me not to swaddle and were super rude about it. Everyone in my home country and many around the world swaddle.” Another user, @codswall0p, commented, “I was reprimanded for it here in Sweden. She said that swaddling = too deep sleep = increased risk for SIDS.”
While parenting norms vary across cultures, Hudgens’ experience highlights how important it is for healthcare professionals to approach these differences with communication and empathy—especially when addressing new parents who are still learning.
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This article originally appeared 1 year ago.
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