Being Baby Friendly

My university is classed as UNICEF UK Baby Friendly - which means we follow the UNICEF guidelines when promoting Breastfeeding in our training and during placement.

I am a big advocate for breastfeeding. I am also a big advocate for feeding babies, any which way.
But for those mothers who choose breastfeeding, and it should be a mothers choice, I try to assist and advocate for them to breastfeed in hospital, at home and in public (if they wish).

No mother should feel coerced in how they feed their baby, but when choosing breastfeeding, support is vital as it can be a difficult journey.

I wrote a blog post on breastfeeding on my tumblr website I had when first started thinking about midwifery blogging, and I got lots of feedback of how I sounded like I was regurgitating a textbook, or a breastfeeding leaflet. This is why I decided that I would change my approach to breastfeeding support to be individualised and promote the use of peer supporters and breastfeeding groups in the community.

However I still follow these UNICEF Baby Friendly guidelines (5/10 guidelines);

1. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
2. Practise rooming-in - that is, allow mothers and infants to remain together - 24 hours a day.
3. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
4. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
5. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.