Table 1 The Ten Steps to successful breastfeeding and the relevant aspects of the code of marketing of breast milk substitutes

The Ten Steps

Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should:

1

Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

2

Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

3

Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

4

Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth.

5

Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.

6

Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.

7

Practise rooming-in - that is, allow mothers and infants to remain together - 24 hours a day.

8

Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

9

Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

10

Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

The Code

The following questions must be answered in the affirmative for compliance with the Code:

1

Does the healthcare facility refuse free or low-cost supplies of breast-milk substitutes, purchasing them for the wholesale price or more?

2

Is all promotion for breast-milk substitutes, bottles, teats, or pacifiers absent from the facility, with no materials displayed or distributed to pregnant women or mothers?

3

Are employees of manufacturers or distributors of breast-milk substitutes, bottles, teats, or pacifiers prohibited from any contact with pregnant women or mothers?

4

Does the hospital refuse free gifts, non-scientific literature, materials or equipment, money or support for in-service education or events from manufacturers or distributors of products within the scope of the Code?