Monday, July 27, 2009

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)

Below is some information which I found on Internet regarding ‘The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’ from http://www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/baby.htm.

* Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
* Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
* Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
* Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one half-hour of birth.
* Show mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants.
* Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
* Practice rooming in - that is, allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
* Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
* Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
* Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.


More information can be read at the posted link as above ~~

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