Breastfeeding has many health
benefits for both the mother and infant, also been associated with higher
intelligence quotient (IQ) in children. Exclusive breastfeeding means that the
infant receives only breast milk. Infants should be exclusively breastfed for
the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health.
To enable mothers to
establish and sustain exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, WHO and UNICEF
recommend:
1. Initiation of breastfeeding within the first
hour of life.
2. Exclusive breastfeeding–that is the infant only
receives breast milk without any additional food or drink, not even water.
The foundation for the BFHI
(Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative)
are the Ten Steps to Successful
Breastfeeding described in Protecting, Promoting and Supporting
Breastfeeding: a Joint WHO/UNICEF Statement. While improved maternity services
help to increase the initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, support throughout
the health system is required to help mothers sustain exclusive breastfeeding.
WHO and UNICEF developed the 40-hour Breastfeeding Counselling: A
training course to train a cadre of health workers that can provide skilled
support to breastfeeding mothers and help them overcome problems, both
institutions have also developed a 5-day course on Infant and Young Child
Feeding Counselling, to train health workers so they become competent and able
to promote appropriate breastfeeding, complementary feeding and feeding of
infants in the context of HIV.
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