Ten
Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
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 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 breastmilk, 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.
Source:
Protecting, Promoting and Supporting
Breastfeeding: The Special Role
of Maternity Services, a joint WHO/UNICEF
statement published by the World
Health Organization.
