1.0 Introduction
Welcome to Breastfeeding Policy Orientation
In this short course you will be
- reviewing your Unit's breastfeeding policy, noting how it correlates with the Baby Friendly Initiative criteria, and
- reviewing your responsibilities and those of your Unit, as defined by the World Health Organization Code on the Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent WHA articles (referred to as the WHO Code, or simply The Code).
Your Unit's breastfeeding policy may be unique to your Unit. However, to ensure best-practice protocols for the care of mothers and babies in your Unit and to achieve and maintain Baby Friendly accreditation, your policy must incorporate internationally developed strategies that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
The Baby Friendly Initiative 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding for hospital facilities, and the 7-Point Plan for community health centres, are supported by the Innocenti Declaration, the World Health Organisation Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding.
The Steps and Points of the Baby Friendly Initiative are the practical 'how-to' guides to ensure clinical practice conforms with these international standards.
What is a Policy?
A policy is a deliberate set of statements that will
- ensure consistent, effective care;
- provide a standard of practice that can be measured;
- support actions.
A regulatory policy, such as the policies implemented by health care institutions, limit the discretion of individuals or compel certain types of behavior. That is, you have a legal requirement imposed on you by your employer to follow the policy. It is not a personal decision whether you will follow or ignore certain aspects of a policy.
A policy that has been developed to support evidence-based, best-practice principles not only prevents conflicts in care, but is your protection should anything untoward occur.
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![]() | ![]() Know your institution's policiesIt is imperative that you know and comply with all the policies of your workplace. Not only will this protect your patients or clients, but it is also for your own legal protection. | ![]() |
Breastfeeding Policy and Procedures
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![]() | ![]() Throughout this course you will refer to your institution's breastfeeding policy and the accompanying procedures that detail how the policy should be implemented.
Obtain a copy of the Breastfeeding Policy and Procedures now, and have it beside you as you work through this course. When you see the 'books' icon it will indicate to you that you should refer to these documents. | ![]() |
What should I remember?
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