World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7th

Starting today it is World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7, 2010). There will be breastfeeding advocates from 170 countries recognizing this international World Breastfeeding Week. This year’s theme is “Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way”. According to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) the following steps are meant to help mothers successfully breastfeed. These are from http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/pdf/wbw2010pr.pdf

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 mothers about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-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. Practice rooming-in – 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.

Visit www.WorldBreastfeedingWeek.org