BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL POLICY STATEMENT
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BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL
POLICY STATEMENT - extracted text
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SDA-RF-CH-1.26
BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL
POLSCY STATEMENT
1. This hospital promotes exclusive breastfeeding practices as these are beneficial
for both the child and the mother. Breast-milk is the best food available and is
species specific {human milk for human babies} to suit the child's needs. Exclusive
breastfeeding prevents malnutrition and infections and is essentia! for the healthy
growth of the child. Exclusive breastfeeding has the potential of saving many lives.
2. AH women attending antenatal clinics will be informed about the benefits and
management of breastfeeding so that no child is denied the advantages of
exclusive breastfeeding due to lack of Information by the mother.
3. Newborns will be put to the breast in the labour room within half-an-hour of
delivery. Newborns delivered by caesarean section will be put to the breast within
4 to 6 hours as soon as the condition of ths mother stabilizes. Case sheets will
record the time the child was put to the breast after delivery and the reasons for
the delay, if breastfeeding was delayed.
4. Newborns will ba kept with the mother at all times. Only the sick newborns will
be admitted in special wards for such children. Mothers will be allowed in the ward
for breastfeeding. The children will be fed expressed milk from the mother using
sterile paladai, spoon and cup or tube if they are unable to suckle. The utensils
used for feeding children will be sterilized by autoclaving or boiling.
5. No subsidized tinned milk substitutes wiii ba permitted and no bottles or
pacifiers will be allowed in the hospital.
6. The mothers will be encouraged to adopt any position they find comfortable.
They will be taught the correct position of the baby on the breast, i.e. to put the
nipple and the areola well into the baby's mouth for effective suckling.
7. The children will be fed on demand. This promotes more milk formation and
prevents painful engorgement of the breasts.
8. Mothers wiii be specifically informed that no water is required in a breastfed
child up to 4 to S months of age as breast-milk contains sufficient fluids to meet
the child's needs. Water reduces the baby's breast-milk intake and can cause
infections.
Pre-iacteal feeds, such as honey and glucose-water, will be
discouraged. Mothers will be advised to introduce semi-solids in the diet of the
child between 4 to 6 months, in addition to breastfeeding. They wiii be advised
to continue breastfeeding for as long as possible, wei! into the second year.
9. Relatives and friends will be encouraged to attend the briefing sessions on
exclusive breastfeeding and newborn care so that the women have a support
group. They will be encouraged to ask questions, clarify doubts on breastfeeding
and encouraged to return to the hospital if they have any problems. The sister-incharge of the post-natal ward will be responsible for ensuring that all mothers are
properly informed and are practising exclusive breastfeeding.
10. This hospital also promotes other baby and child friendly practices. All
mothers will be advised about essential newborn care and immunization before
discharge from the hospital. This hospital also practices the correct management
of diarrhoea and pneumonia. Birth spacing facilities are available in the hospital.
Medical Superintendent
............... Hospital
Date
NOTICE BOARD
1. Copy for strict compliance. The breastfeeding policy of this hospital must be
communicated to all medical and health personnel responsible for maternal and
infant care.
a.
b.
c.
Head of the department of gynaecology and obstetrics
Head of the department of paediatrics
Nursing Supervisor
2. Copy for information to:
a.
State MCH Officer
b.
Deputy Commissioner (MCH), Department of Family Welfare, Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi -110011.
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SDA-RF-CH-1.26.pdf
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