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Section One: Birth


Lesson 7: Ten Things to Ask About ............ Page 10 of 10

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10. "How do you help mothers who want to breast feed?"

The World Health Organisation made this list of ways birth services support breast feeding.

  • They tell all pregnant mothers why and how to breast feed.
  • They help you start breast feeding within hours after your baby is born.
  • They show you how to breast feed. And they show you how to keep your milk coming in even if you have to be away from your baby.
  • Newborns should have only breast milk. (However, there may be a medical reason they cannot have it right away.)
  • They encourage you and the baby to stay together all day and all night. We call this "rooming-in."
  • They encourage you to feed your baby whenever he or she wants to nurse, rather than at certain times.
  • They should not give pacifiers ("dummies" or "soothers") to breast-fed babies.
  • They encourage you to join a group of mothers who breast feed. They tell you how to contact a group near you.
  • They have a written policy on breast feeding. All the employees know about and use the ideas in the policy.
  • They teach employees the skills they need to carry out these steps.

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