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Breastfeeding 81
developed by UNICEF and the World Health
Organization (www.babyfriendly.org.uk/), have
higher numbers of mothers breastfeeding on
discharge from the unit. The ten steps are:
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is
routinely communicated to all healthcare
staff.
2. Train all healthcare staff in the skills necessary hygienically.
to implement the breastfeeding policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits
and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding soon after
birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to
maintain lactation even if they are
separated from their babies.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other
than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in, allowing mothers and
infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no artificial teats or dummies to
breastfeeding infants.
10. Identify sources of national and local support
for breastfeeding and ensure that mothers
know how to access these prior to discharge
from hospital.
Once her decision on how to feed her infant is
made, a mother needs to be supported and advised
on safe feeding. Breastfeeding mothers often need
support to overcome any difficulties and problems
that arise, as without appropriate support many
give up breastfeeding before they wish to (Bolling
et al. 2007). Mothers choosing to formula feed need
to be shown how to sterilize feeding equipment and
make up formula feeds safely.
Milk feeding choices for mothers with
HIV
In the UK, women known to be HIV antibody
positive, should be advised not to breastfeed but to
use infant formula for feeding their baby as the
HIV virus can be passed to the infant via breast
milk. Mixed feeding – offering both breast milk
and infant formula – carries the highest risk of
HIV transmission to the infant. Where
HIV-positive mothers do not have facilities to
make up infant formula safely they are advised to
breastfeed exclusively to reduce the risk of death
through gastroenteritis from bacterial
contamination of infant formula not made up
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the natural way of providing
nutritional, emotional and social care for the
infant. There are also environmental benefits in
that no transport or manufacturing costs are
involved.
Benefits of breast milk for the infants
and their mothers
The health of both mother and child benefit, in the
short and long term, and the longer the duration of
breastfeeding, the greater the health benefits to
both. Exclusive breastfeeding until weaning and
then continued breastfeeding while weaning
provides maximum health benefits to infants.
Advantages to the infant
The advantages to the infant can be listed as (Quigley
et al. 2007, 2009; Ip et al. 2007; Horta et al. 2007):
●● optimal growth and development
●● reduced incidence of gastrointestinal, urinary
tract and respiratory infections
●● reduced risk of otitis media until the age of 5–7
years
●● reduced incidence of both insulin- and
non-insulin-dependent diabetes
●● growth factors, which enhance the infant’s gut
development and maturation
●● reduced risk of constipation
●● reduced incidence of some childhood cancers
(leukaemia and lymphomas, e.g. Hodgkin’s
disease)