Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

Additional Notes: Baby Friendly Hospitals and Breastfeeding
Many papers assessed were not included because:
1. Little data included – opinion pieces, editorials
2. Applied to neonatal intensive care units and LBW infants.
The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched by WHO and UNICEF in 1991,
following the Innocenti Declaration of 1990. The initiative is a global effort to implement practices
that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
To help in the implementation of the initiative, different tools and materials were developed, fieldtested
and provided, including a course for maternity staff, a self-appraisal tool and an external
assessment tool. Additional tools were developed afterwards, such as monitoring and reassessment
tools. Since its launching BFHI has grown, with more than 20,000 designated facilities in 152
countries around the world. The initiative has measurable and proven impact, increasing the
likelihood of babies being exclusively breastfed for the first six months.
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/bfhi/en/index.html Accessed 8 Oct 2010
BFHI accreditation is based on the ‘The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding’ a summary of the
guidelines for maternity care facilities presented in the Joint WHO/UNICEF Statement Protecting,
Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding: The Special Role of Maternity Services, (WHO, 1989)
have been accepted as the minimum global criteria for attaining the status of a Baby-friendly
Hospital.
TEN STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING
Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should:
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated
from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated.
7. Practise rooming in - allow mothers and infants to remain together - 24 hours a day.
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