Baby-friendly hospital: how to sustain?

ABSTRACT

The campaign for exclusive breast-feeding in a baby-friendly hospital at Prapokklao Hospital, Chanthaburi was increased. The contributory factors was likely due to enforcement of early bonding and attachment, by rooming-in of infants in the materity ward. After cessation of comprehensive intervention exclusive breast-feeding dropped significantly but increased in predominant breast-feeding. This might be due to family influence with the suggestion to give water in addition to breast milk. Data shows that rooming-in is essential in the promotion of breast-feeding. A decreased of abandoned children indicates early bonding. To sustain a baby-friendly hospital, 10 steps to successful breast-feeding must be followed strictly. Intervention activities must be done continuously with cooperation of health providers at all levels. It is felt that breast-feeding should not be considered a maternal instinct but a new behavior that needs to be changed to a point that mothers adopt breast-feeding practices for 4 months after delivery.