Going baby Friendly – Why Breastfeeding is important to all of us

Jacky SymeInfant Feeding Network Lead –

East of England

The Baby Friendly Initiative

Promoting health and wellbeing for all babies

Best interest of all children

Father/Partner

Family/Friends

Community

Mother and baby at the centre

Evidence!

The Baby Friendly Initiative Standards

Health visiting standards

• Support for pregnant women• Continued breastfeeding• Informed decisions re other food for babies• Close and loving relationships

Children’s centre standards

• Support for pregnant women• Support for infant feeding • Close and loving relationships

Support for pregnant women

• Provide information about the benefits and management of breastfeeding

• One to One discussion by 34 weeks• Group opportunities – Pregnancy, Birth and

Beyond, DH 2010

• Audit pregnant women’s experiences

Why breastfeeding is important

For Babies For mothersGastroenteritis Breast CancerChest Infections Ovarian CancerEar infections OsteoporosisDiabetes Close loving relationshipsHeart DiseaseObesity Secure attachments and bonding

Support for infant feeding and continued breastfeeding

• Show mothers how to breastfeed– Skin to skin contact– Positioning and attachment

• Help them to maintain breastfeeding– Keep mothers and babies together– Responsive feeding– Avoid bottles teats and dummies

• Provide facilities to offer support• Audit pregnant women’s experiences

Responsive feeding

A sensitive reciprocal relationship between a mother and her baby. A mother responds to her baby when

• he shows feeding cues• he is distressed or lonely• her breasts are full• she simply wants a sit down and cuddle

Breastfed babies cannot be overfed or ‘spoiled’ by frequent feeding!

Oxytocin and Cortisol

Oxytocin - fertiliser for the brain

Cortisol – prunes back brain growth

Responsive bottle feeding

• Hold baby close• Encourage rooting• Invite her to take teat • Pace the feed • Never force a ‘full’ feed• Limit who gives the feeds

Maximising breastmilk

• Discuss options and agree plan • Try to avoid supplements until

breastfeeding established• Keep night feeds as breastfeeds• Restrict number/amount formula

given• Keep the ‘door’ open

Creating facilities to make it happen-Baby Brasseries

• Groups for breastfeeding mums, • Children’s centre based• Strict criteria • Facilitated jointly by HV’s and CC’s

Creating facilities to make it happen-Out, about and breastfeeding

• Working with environmental Health Inspectors• All cafes bars and restaurants in Bedfordshire • Leaflets, posters and web based advertising to

mums

Creating facilities to make it happen-Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddies • Breastfeeding mums who want to help • Peer support model• Buddies help at Baby Brasseries or clinics• Supervised and supported by Baby friendly

Team

Achieving Baby Friendly

• Achieving all the standards

• Developing further to improve services

• Auditing regularly and continually training

• Bringing everyone together – partnership working

Building on good practice

• Promising – Good - Excellent• Innovations to improve care• Advanced• Beacon

Thank you