Ten Steps To Succesful Breastfeeding
10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
Importance of Breastfeeding
- Press feeding is highlighted as a vital source of warmth and comfort for infants, emphasizing its readiness, sterility, and ideal temperature.
- The necessity for effective breastfeeding practices in hospitals is introduced, indicating that there are steps to be taken for successful implementation.
Establishing a Breastfeeding Policy
- A written breastfeeding policy should be established and regularly discussed among healthcare staff to ensure everyone is informed.
- Training for all staff on the skills necessary to implement this policy is crucial.
- Pregnant women should receive information about the benefits and management of breastfeeding during their first visit.
Support During Labor and Delivery
- Mass sessions can help mothers relax, potentially leading to less painful labor and easier breastfeeding immediately after birth.
- Orientation regarding breastfeeding and rooming-in policies should be provided to mothers and relatives upon admission.
- Mothers in labor are permitted to drink fluids; immediate skin-to-skin contact with newborns post-delivery is encouraged.
Rooming-In Policies
- Implementation of rooming-in policies allows mothers and newborns to stay together; sponge pots should be provided for hygiene.
- Mothers must learn how to express breast milk manually or using a double-barrel breast pump for times when they are separated from their infants.
Storing and Feeding Expressed Milk
- Expressed breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours; it can then be fed using cup feeding methods.
- Newborn infants should only receive breast milk unless medically indicated otherwise; screening within 48–72 hours post-birth is essential.
Encouraging Demand Feeding
- Breastfeeding on demand is encouraged, especially for small babies weighing less than 2 kg who may benefit from kangaroo care techniques.
- If a newborn cannot suck directly from the breast due to issues like cleft palate, alternative feeding methods such as cup feeding are recommended.
Post-discharge Support
- Before discharge, parents should receive thorough instructions on continuing breastfeeding at home.
- In cases where mothers may face challenges (e.g., illness), establishing a system for milk pumping ensures continuous supply through manual expression or pumps.
Addressing Feeding Challenges
- Hospital staff should monitor any difficulties newborns have with sucking due to conditions like cleft palate; follow-up support within three days post-discharge is advised.