OPTIMUM BREAST FEEDING

PRACTICES
Saving Newborn Lives by Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding
Courtesy:
HELP [Health Education & Literacy Programme]
OPTIMUM BREAST FEEDING
PRACTICES

Initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of
birth
Early initiation of breastfeeding
for the normal newborn
Why?
Increases duration of breastfeeding
Allows skin-to-skin contact for warmth and
colonization of baby with maternal organisms
Provides colostrum as the babys first
immunization
Takes advantage of the first hour of alertness
Babies learn to suckle more effectively
Improved developmental outcomes
Stimulates oxytocin release
Prevents postpartum haemorrhage
Helps delivery of placenta
Helps in uterine involution
OPTIMUM BREAST FEEDING
PRACTICES


Encourage breastfeeding on demand
( Day &Night)
What is Demand Feeding
Fed whenever the baby cries
Frequent suckling at least 8-10 times per
day
Scheduled feeding interferes with successful
lactation
A sleepy baby should be awakened to have
at least 8-10 feeds in 24 hours
On demand, unrestricted breastfeeding
Why?
Earlier passage of meconium
Lower maximal weight loss
Breast-milk flow established sooner
Larger volume of milk intake on day 3
Less incidence of jaundice
From: Yamauchi Y, Yamanouchi I. Breast-feeding frequency during the first 24 hours after birth in full-
term neonates. Pediatrics, 1990, 86(2):171-175.
Demand Feeding

Prevents engorgement and mastitis
Is critical for child spacing
Keeps baby satisfied
Advantages of Night feeding
Sustains milk supply
Useful for working mothers
Helps ensure 8-10 feeds/24 hours
More prolactin at night
No Prelacteal Feeds



Replace colostrum
Reduce babys desire for breastfeeding
Greater risk of infection
Risk of intolerance, allergy
Can cause nipple confusion if given in a
bottle

Exclusive Breast Feeding
Exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months of
life
Giving an infant only breastmilk
No food or drink other than breastmilk
not even water
No Ghutti/Honey etc.


Feeding at both breasts
Helps sustain milk supply

Breast feeding for 2 years


Ten Steps To Successful Breast Feeding
Have a written breastfeeding policy
that is routinely communicated to all
health care staff.
STEP 1:
15
Train all health care staff in
skills necessary to implement
this policy.
STEP 2:

Inform all pregnant women
about the benefits and
management of breastfeeding
STEP 3:
Help mothers initiate
breastfeeding within a half-
hour of birth.
STEP 4:
Show mothers how to breastfeed,
and how to maintain lactation
even if they should be separated
from their infants.
STEP 5:
Give newborn infants no food or
drink other than breast milk
unless medically indicated.
STEP 6:
Practise rooming in allow
mothers and infants to remain
together 24 hours a day.
STEP 7:
Encourage breastfeeding on
demand.
STEP 8:
Give no artificial teats or
pacifiers (also called dummies
or soothers) to breastfeeding
infants.
STEP 9:
Foster the establishment of
breastfeeding support groups
and refer mothers to them on
discharge from the hospital or
clinic.
STEP 10:
Delayed initiation
Discarding Colostrum
Mothers negative attitude towards Breast Feeding
Sick mother or baby
Seperation of baby frm mother
Use of bottles, nipples, formula milk & other
substitutes
Exhaustion of mother
Lack of sleep
Working mothers

Factors which hinder
Optimum Breast Feeding