Strategies to promote & support breastfeeding

  • Have up-to-date staff with current information and staff who have positive and encouraging attitudes about breastfeeding


  • Inform all pregnant and new mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and the risks of not breastfeeding


  • Initiate breastfeeding within half-an-hour of birth


  • Show new mothers how to breastfeed and do not give new infants any other food or drink unless medically indicated


  • Do not give new infants any pacifiers or soothers to breastfeeding infants


  • Make patient-friendly information available in multiple languages; make facts clear and simple, and easy to read


  • Ensure privacy for mothers who desire it


  • Display breastfeeding-friendly material


  • Have a non-judgmental attitude and help mothers to explore myths and false information that may interfere with successful breastfeeding


  • Provide access to prenatal and postnatal care and education


  • Include family members (spouse, mother, grandmothers, etc) in the breastfeeding education programs. Encourage family participation when appropriate


  • Provide mothers with a realistic view of breastfeeding and support mothers who do not achieve their original breastfeeding goals


  • Discuss common breastfeeding issues and problems before they occur


  • Refer mothers to counselling if they need it


  • Help to link new mothers to mothers who have had success with breastfeeding


  • Link mothers to support groups such as the Le Leche League and other community groups and provide resources for barriers such as transportation which may interfere with a mother's ability to access community resources


  • Make contact with new mothers in the community within 24 hours after discharge


  • Support mothers who breastfeed in public

 

References

Health Canada. (2002). A Practical Workshop to Protect, Promote, and Support Breastfeeding in Community Based Projects. (Cat. No. H39-569/2001E). Ottawa, ON: Author

Odawa Native Friendship Centre. (n.d.) Breastfeeding support. Retrieved December 01, 2002, from Aboriginal Pre-Natal Nutrition Web site: http://www.odawa.on.ca/programs/pre-nata.htm


 

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