Health • Created August 8, 2016 07:33

10 steps to successful breastfeeding

First week of August has been all about mothers and babies – and the breastfeeding that binds them. Breast milk has benefits for babies, especially in the first six months when they need to be exclusively fed on breast milk. But more than five million newborns miss out on the benefits, according to the United […]

10 steps to successful breastfeeding


First week of August has been all about mothers and babies – and the breastfeeding that binds them.

Breast milk has benefits for babies, especially in the first six months when they need to be exclusively fed on breast milk.

But more than five million newborns miss out on the benefits, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.

And less than three in 10 babies get exclusively breastfed.

Breastfeeding doesn’t come easy, but the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has put up 10 steps to help mother breastfeed and help health workers encourage it.

10 steps to help a mother breastfeed

  • ·        Lubricate the nipple, frequently pulling out the nipple to promote prominence and enabling baby to latch properly
  • ·        Regular cleanse the nipple and the areola in preparation for breastfeeding
  • ·        Initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth
  • ·        Wear a nursing bra that is a size larger; avoid underwire bras and wear clothes that enable you flip your bra under – not over – your breast while nursing
  • ·        Make sure the baby is well positioned at the breast; latch on correctly and breastfeed on demand
  • ·        Change your baby’s feeding position but ensure baby finishes feeding at one breast before switching in order to empty the breast sufficiently
  • ·        Vary nursing positions throughout the day, at least once during each feed; position the baby so that the jaw points towards the plug.
  • ·        Sit comfortably, and take the baby to the breast and not the breast to the baby to avoid back pain while breastfeeding
  • ·        Wash your hands after each of these procedures: before touching your breasts, diaper change, using the bathroom – and change bra pads frequently
  • ·        Express breast milk, and preserve for not more than eight hours in order to maintain lactation even when they are separated from their infants.

10 things health workers need to do about breastfeeding

Every facility that provides maternity services and care for newborn infants should:

  • ·        Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
  • ·        Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy
  • ·        Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding
  • ·        Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
  • ·        Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants.
  • ·        Ensure newborn infants have no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
  • ·        Rooming-in: Allow mothers and infants remain together – 24 hours a day.
  • ·        Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
  • ·        Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeed infants.
  • ·        Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Tags