The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.

Does Your Hospital Make the Grade?.

This program was developed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF to promote breastfeeding success worldwide. Hospitals who use the title "Baby Friendly", have been recognized as following the 10 steps in the program. Ask the hospital where you will be giving birth if they follow the ten steps. If they say "No", then that hospital may have practices that could endanger your breastfeeding plans.

Baby Friendly Hospitals:

Have a written policy on breastfeeding that all health care staff know.
Train all health care staff so they can make the policy work.
Teach all expecting mothers what is good about breastfeeding and how to get started.
Help mothers start breastfeeding within one-half hour after birth.
Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to keep their milk supply if they have to be separated from their baby.
Give newborns no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically necessary.
Practice rooming-in--in other words, allow mothers and babies to remain together 24 hours a day.
Encourage baby led feedings--no schedules.
Give no pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfed babies.
Encourage the growth of breastfeeding support programs and refer mothers to them.

From: Protecting, Promoting and Supporting Breast-feeding: The Special Role of Maternity Services
A Joint WHO/UNICEF Statement
Published by the World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.

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