Table 1 Specific tasks of peer counsellors and key counselling topics during pregnancy

• Enrol pregnant women in the programme in the third trimester of pregnancy

• Encourage them to go to health facility for regular antenatal checks and tetanus toxoid injections and;

   oIncrease food intake at each meal and eat nutritious snacks in between`

   o Rest for about 2 h after lunch

   o Avoid lifting heavy weights

• Encourage delivery at health facility or by trained/skilled birth attendant at home

• Explain

   o Importance of early initiation of breastfeeding

   o Problems of pre-lacteal feeding

   o Benefits of exclusive breastfeeding

   oDangers of feeding a baby non-human milk and of bottle feeding

• Demonstrate correct position and attachment at the breast (with towel/doll)

• Encourage washing hands before breastfeeding