Table 1.

Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding [5]

Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should:
1.	Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
2.	Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3.	Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4.	Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one half-hour of birth.a
5.	Show mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants.
6.	Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast-milk, unless medically indicated.
7.	Practice rooming in - that is, allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hrs a day.
8.	Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9.	Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
10.	Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

^aSince 2009, this step is interpreted as: “Place babies in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately following birth for at least an hour. Encourage mothers to recognize when their babies are ready to breastfeed and offer help if needed.” [6]