10 Steps Maternity Guideline To Successful Breastfeeding

Every facility providing maternity and child health services and care for infants should:

1. Display the TEN STEPS to successful BREASTFEEDING at all services delivery contact points.
2. Routinely communicate the STEPS to all health care staff and mentor staff on skills necessary to implement the ten steps.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the BENEFITS and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within ONE HOUR of birth.
5. Show mothers how to BREASTFEED, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants NO FOOD or DRINKS other than breast milk for the first six months, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice ROOMING IN – allow mothers and infants to remain together – 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage BREASTFEEDING on demand.
9. Give no ARTIFICIAL TEATS or PACIFIERS (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants
10. Integrate BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT in all community outreach activities.