2.1 Steps 1 & 2; Points 1 & 2
1: Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communciated to all healthcare staff
- If you work in a hospital setting your breastfeeding policy must incorporate each of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
- If you work in a community setting your policy will incorporate the 7-Point Plan.
Implementation
- A copy of the policy that incorporates the Baby Friendly criteria must be provided to all new staff at commencement of their employment and orientation to the policy scheduled for all new staff, including volunteers.
- The policy, or a summary of the policy, must be displayed in all areas that serve mothers and babies.
- Your policy should be available in easily understood language in the languages mostly commonly spoken by women using your Unit.
Activity
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![]() | ![]() As you walk around your health facility look around to see where the policy (or summary of the policy) has been posted. It should be easy for you to see in such areas as the emergency department, the paediatric ward, the ultrasound and screening clinics, the birthing rooms, the baby-change or feeding rooms provided for the general public, as well as the more obvious places such as each room in the maternity/obstetric unit. Evaluation: | ![]() |
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Display the breastfeeding policy in the most common languages spoken.
© D.Fisher, IBCLC
2: Health professional education in order to implement the policy
All new staff should be orientated to the breastfeeding policy within their first week of employment, and then fully trained to implement the breastfeeding policy, according to their role, within six months.
All staff who assist mothers with breastfeeding are required to complete a comprehensive course that incorporates the backgound knowledge and clinical skills needed in order to implement best practice standards successfully.
Implementation
Educational component
Clinical competency
Clinical competency in the following key skills must be assessed and recorded:
- communication skills, in particular regarding infant-feeding counseling during the prenatal period
- teaching positioning and latching of the baby to the breast
- teaching hand expressing of breastmilk
- teaching safe preparation and feeding of breastmilk substitutes

Hand expressing colostrum.
© E.Grunis IBCLC
Refer to the Breastfeeding Policy
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![]() | ![]() Find the section in the Policy that states what education each staff member has to receive.
Does the Procedure to implement it:
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What should I remember?
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