Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

• Every child should be exclusively breastfed for at least a few months of life.
Infants who are not breastfed are twice as likely to die as those who are.
• The current bottle-feeding fashion has no health advantages over breastfeeding,
and has spread only because of the success of intensive marketing efforts made by
the companies who produce baby formulas
• Health workers should make every effort to help mothers to achieve successful
lactation
Post the flipchart Benefits of Breastfeeding and review the benefits with the group.
Refer to the trainer document: Benefits of Breastfeeding for further details.
Indicate pages in the Roma Health Mediator Manual where this information can be
found.
II.
PRINCIPLES OF BREASTFEEDING (15 minutes)
Distribute the handout Principles of Breastfeeding. Ask volunteers to read the
statements.
Ask participants:
‣ In your communities, are these principles generally applied?
The answers will vary.
‣ What can you do to encourage more mothers to follow these principles?
• Inform/Educate mothers about:
o The benefits of breastfeeding
o The principles of breastfeeding (when to begin, frequency, duration, exclusivity)
o Techniques and positions for breastfeeding
o How to maintain lactation
o How to maintain proper hygiene of the breasts
o How to resolve common problems of breastfeeding
• Correct misinformation and myths encountered in the community
III.
TECHNIQUES AND POSITIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL
BREASTFEEDING (40 minutes)
Ask participants:
‣ What kind of mothers need more help with breastfeeding?
• new mothers who are breastfeeding for the first time
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 9: Breastfeeding