1. Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) Accreditation
Protecting, supporting and promoting breastfeeding in WA hospitals
© Department of Health, State of Western Australia
Delivering a Healthy WA

2. Our hospital is applying for Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) accreditation. Each of us has a role to play in implementing the ten steps to successful breastfeeding. 2

3. Breastfeeding gives babies the best start in life.

4. BFHI is a World Health Organisation (WHO) / United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) global strategy
That promotes:
exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.
timely introduction of adequate, safe and appropriate complementary food.
breastfeeding for 2 yrs and beyond, as mother and baby desire.

5. Everyone
Everywhere
Benefits

6. The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI)
Was launched in 1991 by the WHO/UNICEF.
It aims to give every baby the best start in life by creating a health care environment where breastfeeding is the norm.

7. BFHI goals Implement the “Ten steps to successful breastfeeding”.
End the practice of distribution of free and low cost supplies of infant formula to hospitals and maternity wards.

8. Our goals
For all staff to know how they can protect, promote and support breastfeeding in our hospital
For all staff to be educated on the ten steps to successful breastfeeding

9. Step one:
Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

10. The policy should be on display
The policy is based on the 10 steps
Everyone should know about it – if you don’t know ask a midwife
It gives guidance on the initiation of breastfeeding.
It ensures consistent hospital practices.

11. Step two:
Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

12. Everyone should attend some form of training.
Training improves breastfeeding rates.

13. Step three:
Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

14. Information given to women about the benefits of breastfeeding motivates them to breastfeed.

15. Step four:
Place babies skin to skin contact with their mothers immediately following birth for at least an hour and encourage mothers to recognise when their babies are ready to breastfeed, offering help if needed.

16. Babies placed skin to skin
Cry less
Keep warm
Use less energy
Start to develop their instinctive feeding behaviours

17. Step five:
Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain their lactation even if separated from their infants.

18.  Expert advice and support improves the mother’s confidence.
Information and individual help on expressing breast milk maintains the milk supply of a mother if separated from her baby.

19. Step six:
Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.

20. Other food or drink May interfere with newborn suckling.
Reduces the frequency of breastfeeding.
Is known to cause some babies to stop breastfeeding

21. Step seven:
Practice rooming-in, allow mothers and babies to remain together 24 hours a day.

22. Reduces the chances of cross infection.
Allows the mother to get to know her baby.

23. Step eight:
Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

24. Scheduled feeding leads to breastfeeding problems.
Feeding the baby whenever they are hungry helps make and maintain the milk supply.

25. Step Nine:
Give no artificial teats or dummies to breastfed infants.

26. Dummies reduce time spent suckling at the breast.
Dummies should not replace a breastfeed.

27. Step ten:
Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support and refer mothers on discharge from the facility.

28. Continued support after discharge improves breastfeeding rates.

29. What’s all the fuss? 29

30. Breast milk and breastfeeding baby benefits
Less risk of infection
Higher intelligence
Reduces the risk of childhood obesity
May protect them from diabetes and heart disease when older 30

31. Breastfeeding benefits for mums
May reduce the risk of osteoporosis, breast and ovarian cancers
Helps the return to pre-pregnancy weight. 31

32. Breastfeeding benefits for the family
Requires no special equipment.
Protects the environment.
Is free 32

33. Who can help? Australian Breastfeeding Association.
Community Child Health Nurses.
Some hospitals have dedicated breastfeeding clinics.
Private Lactation Consultants (fees apply).
Mother’s groups (playgroups, coffee mornings etc).
You

34. How can you help?

35. Understand how the ‘Ten steps to successfully breastfeeding’ can affect your practice.

36. Know how important breastfeeding is for everyone

37. Know what to say and ask the midwifery staff for help if a mother asks your advice

38. Produced for WA Health: Women’s and Newborns’ Health Network
Music: Sovereign. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution 3.0
Photographs: Families and staff from King Edward Memorial Hospital.
© Department of Health, State of Western Australia