Table 1 Ten steps to successful breastfeeding
Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should: |
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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 h 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. |