2.3 Initiating, managing & maintaining breastfeeding
The goal of your Unit's breastfeeding policy, supported by the following Baby Friendly Steps and Points, is for every mother leaving your care to be able to confidently and independently exclusively breastfeed her infant for 6 months continuing for up to two years and beyond with the addition of appropriate complementary foods after six months of age.
Birthing facility care
Step 4
Place babies in skin-to-skin contact with their mother immediately following birth for at least an hour, and encourage mothers to recognize when their babies are ready to breastfeed, offering help if needed.
Step 5
Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
Step 6
Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated.
Step 7
Practise rooming in - allow mothers and infants to remain together - 24 hour a day.
Step 8
Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
Encourage baby-led or cue-based breastfeeding. Encourage sustained breastfeeding beyond six months with appropriate introduction of complementary foods. (Canada)
Step 9
Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
Community-based care
Point 4
Support mothers to initiate (establish) and maintain (exclusive) breastfeeding (to 6 months). United Kingdom, New Zealand
Inform women and their families about the management of breastfeeding and support them to establish and maintain exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months. Australia
Point 5
Encourage exclusive and continued breastfeeding (beyond six months) (to two years or more), with appropriately-timed introduction of (adequate and safe) complementary foods.