What is the purpose of the Ten Steps Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative?

Understanding the Ten Steps Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
The Ten Steps Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF aimed at promoting breastfeeding and ensuring that newborns receive optimal care in their first hours and days of life. Introduced in 1991, this initiative seeks to transform maternity services by creating a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers and their infants, ultimately benefiting public health.
Objectives of the Initiative
The primary purpose of the BFHI is to encourage hospitals and maternity facilities to implement practices that foster breastfeeding. The initiative is rooted in the understanding that breastfeeding is crucial for the health and development of infants, particularly in the first six months of life. The core objectives include:
– Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding: The BFHI advocates for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to provide infants with the essential nutrients and antibodies they need for a strong immune system.

– Supporting Maternal Health: By creating a supportive environment for breastfeeding, the initiative also aims to enhance maternal health, reducing postpartum complications and promoting emotional well-being.
– Reducing Infant Mortality: The BFHI is linked to lower rates of infant mortality and morbidity, as breastfeeding is known to significantly decrease the risk of infections and chronic conditions later in life.
The Ten Steps Explained
The initiative is structured around ten specific steps that hospitals must implement to be designated as “Baby-Friendly.” These steps are:
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy: This policy should be communicated to all healthcare staff.
2. Train all healthcare staff: Staff should be trained in the skills necessary to implement the breastfeeding policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits of breastfeeding: Education is key to fostering an informed choice.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth: Early initiation is crucial for successful breastfeeding.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed: Practical support helps mothers feel more confident in their ability to breastfeed.
6. Give newborns no food or drink other than breast milk: This includes avoiding pacifiers and formula unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in: Keeping mothers and babies together 24 hours a day helps establish breastfeeding.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand: Responsive feeding is important for both mother and baby.
9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers: This helps prevent nipple confusion.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups: Encouraging community support helps sustain breastfeeding beyond the hospital discharge.
Global Impact and Importance
The BFHI has had a significant impact on breastfeeding rates worldwide. By encouraging hospitals to adopt these ten steps, the initiative has contributed to increasing the incidence of breastfeeding, which is essential for improving maternal and child health outcomes globally.
In summary, the Ten Steps Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative serves a critical purpose: to ensure that mothers and their newborns receive the support and education necessary to initiate and sustain breastfeeding, thus promoting healthier populations and reducing health disparities. As countries continue to adopt and implement these practices, the long-term benefits for families and communities grow increasingly evident, reinforcing the importance of this initiative in global health policy.

Why is breastfeeding initiation important?

Rationale: Early initiation of breastfeeding, within one hour of birth, protects the newborn from acquiring infection and reduces newborn mortality. It facilitates emotional bonding of the mother and the baby and has a positive impact on duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

Why were the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding written?

WHO and UNICEF launched the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in 1991 to help motivate facilities providing maternity and newborn services worldwide to implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

What is the main purpose of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative?

The BFHI is a global initiative of the World Health Organization and UNICEF that aims to give every baby the best start in life by creating a health care environment that supports breastfeeding as the norm.

What is the baby-friendly hospital initiative controversy?

The main opponent to BFHI and BFUSA is the nonprofit, Fed is Best. Fed is Best argues that while some of the Baby-Friendly practices are good in theory, they place undue hardships on and potentially endanger mother and baby in an already stressful time.

What is step 10 of BFHI?

10. Coordinate discharge so that parents and their infants have timely access to ongoing support and care.

What is the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative controversy?

The main opponent to BFHI and BFUSA is the nonprofit, Fed is Best. Fed is Best argues that while some of the Baby-Friendly practices are good in theory, they place undue hardships on and potentially endanger mother and baby in an already stressful time.

What are the principles of baby-friendly initiative?

1 Support parents to have a close and loving relationship with their baby. 2 Enable babies to receive breastmilk and to breastfeed when possible. 3 Value parents as partners in care.

Why was the baby-friendly initiative developed?

To improve worldwide breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, the WHO and UNICEF launched the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) in 1991. The goal was to protect, promote and support breastfeeding by adherence to the WHO’s “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding”.

What is the 10 importance of breastfeeding for babies?

Breast milk helps your baby fight off sickness and disease.
This protection is even more important if your baby is born early (premature). Breastfeeding helps reduce the chance your baby will: have diarrhea, ear infections or lung infections. die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

What is the baby friendly program?

About the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative
The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative is an accreditation programme based on the Global World Health Organization/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. The health and well-being of all babies is at the heart of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative.