The following statement directed to healthcare organizations providing maternity services
and newborn care was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was
developed by the joint venture of WHO and UNICEF.
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 half an 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 drink other than breast ilk, unless medically
indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in, that is allow mothers and infants to remain together 24-hours
a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no pacifiers to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to
them on discharge from the hospital.