Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding

share

Connect   
 Follow MotherChild on Twitter  Connect with MotherChild on Facebook  Subscribe to HealthPhone on YouTube   
 
take action
our home page
ten steps to successful breastfeeding
breastfeeding news
breastfeeding
ten facts on breastfeeding
baby-friendly hospital initiative
breastfeeding and hiv/aids
benefits of breastfeeding
facts for feeding
frequently asked questions
resources
links
Initiation of Breastfeeding by Breast Crawl
site map
contact us

World Health Organization's infant feeding recommendation

Training
Breastfeeding
BFHI
HIV

Vikaspedia: Reaching the ‘un-reached’ communities of India

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0

 

 
Step 4: Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.

watch the videostep 1   step 2   step 3   step 4   step 5   step 6   step 7   step 8   step 9   step 10   next

Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should:

Step 4: Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.



Mothers in the maternity ward who have had normal vaginal deliveries should confirm that within a half-hour of birth they were given their babies to hold with skin contact, for at least 30 minutes, and offered help by a staff member to initiate breastfeeding...At least 50% of mothers who have had caesarean deliveries should confirm that within a half-hour of being able to respond, they were given their babies to hold with skin contact.

Place babies in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately following birth for at least an hour and encourage mothers to recognise when their babies are ready to breastfeed, offering help if needed.

It is now well established that mothers who are supported to initiate breastfeeding soon after the baby is born are more likely to have a successful breastfeeding experience. So the fourth step is to initiate breastfeeding within a half–hour of birth.


see breast crawl video
see Initiation of Breastfeeding by Breast Crawl video here

What You Can Do.

Step 4 WABA Action ChartStep 4: WABA Action Chart

What You or Your Organisation Can Do
  >>   click here
World Breastfeeding Week Action Folders pdf format >>   English - Spanish

  • General
    This step now means, for all healthy newborns, skin-to-skin contact from immediately after delivery for at least one hour or until the baby has attached and fed at the breast if this takes longer.

  • Health System
    Advocate for training of all birth attendants to give skilled support to mothers for skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery, allowing the baby to attach to the breast when he or she is ready.

  • Community
    Work to increase community awareness of the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding. Show the video breastfeeding crawl so people see what newborns can do.

  • National / Global
    Inform health professional organisations about new research on implementation of this and other Ten Steps, and ask them to support the new practice.



Key Points:

Why initiate so soon?
  • Allows for skin to skin contact between mother and child, providing emotional support.
  • Provides colostrum as the baby's first immunization.
  • Takes advantage of the first hour of alertness.
How to initiate within 30 minutes:
  • Keep mother and baby together.
  • Place baby on mother's chest
  • Let the baby start suckling when ready. Do not hurry or interrupt the process.
Early Initiation can also:
  • Increase duration of breastfeeding
  • Babies learn to suckle more effectively
  • Help mothers learn to breastfeed on cue
  • Facilitate proper positioning during feedings with the help of a health care professional nearby
  • Enforce education on the risk of artificial feeding and bottle-feeding
Mothers with c-section or complications should be assisted to breastfeed as soon as possible

Mothers should have the opportunity for early skin-to-skin contact regardless of type of delivery


HIV Issues to Consider



Breastfeeding and HIV issues to considerStep 4: Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
Issues to consider while implementing this step in relation to feeding recommendations for children of HIV-infected mothers and for settings with high HIV prevalence.


  • All babies should be well dried, given to their mothers to hold skin-to-skin and covered, whether or not they have decided to breastfeed.
     
  • Staff may assume that babies of HIV infected mothers must be bathed and even separated from their mothers at birth.
     
  • They need to understand that HIV is not transmitted by mothers while they are holding their newborns - mothers need to be encouraged to hold and feel close and affectionate towards their newborn babies.
     
  • HIV-positive mothers should be supported in using the feeding option of their choice. They shouldn't be forced to breastfeed, as they may have chosen to replacement feed without knowledge of the delivery room staff.




watch the videostep one   step two   step three   step four   step five   step six   step seven   step eight   step nine   step ten   next



   15 August, 2013
 
  our main page ten steps to successful breastfeeding breastfeeding news baby-friendly hospital initiative benefits of breeastfeeding facts for feeding frequently asked questions about breastfeeding breastfeeding resources breastfeeding related links site map

HealthPhone: Health, Medical Training Videos

The Mother and Child Health and Education Trust
a U.S. 501(c)(3) non profit organization
our portals and sites
 
HealthPhone™ Mobile Apps
HealthPhone™
Guide to Child Care
imagine
Community Video
HealthRadio
Kyunki-Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai
Rehydration Project
Successful Breastfeeding
Disaster Relief
Community Radio
AIDS action
Polio Free
Untouchability
Health Education to Villages
Breast Crawl
Education for Girls
A Simple Solution
Diarrhoea: 7 Point Plan
HIV and Breastfeeding
Rights of the Child
Mother and Child Nutrition
Mother and Child Health
Facts for Life
Education for Boys
Child Protector
HealthTube