The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

Shocking enough that there are ONLY TWO IN CAPE TOWN, were this is the norm for every hospital in Europe.

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched by the (World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF in 1991, following the Innocenti Declaration of 1990. The Initiative is a global effort to implement practices that protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding through the Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding for Hospitals. As outlined by UNICEF and the WHO.

The ten steps are:

• Maintains a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff
• Trains all staff in skills needed and necessary to implement this policy.
• Informs all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding
• Helps mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of Birth
• Shows mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants
• Gives infants NO FOOD OR DRINK OTHER THAN BREASTMILK unless medically indicated
• Practice "ROOMING IN".Allows mothers and infant to remain TOGETHER 24 HOURS A DAY
• Encourages unrestricted breastfeeding
• Gives NO PACIFIERS OR ARTIFICIAL NIPPLES to breastfeeding infants
• Fosters the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refers mothers to them from discharge of the hospital or clinic.