Why Step 5?
Today few women in the U.S. are able to rely on generational information or have had prior exposure to breastfeeding in their families and peer groups. Your assessment and support in the postpartum period can help build a mother’s confidence and self-efficacy with infant-feeding skills and can improve the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.1
Teach her the skills and concepts listed below before discharge from your facility:
- remind her of the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for her and baby. Assist her with developing a plan to exclusively breastfeed for about six months
- how to manage common breastfeeding difficulties
- how to tell if her baby is transferring milk effectively
- tips on expressing and storing her breastmilk, including manual expression
- protecting her milk supply if separated from her baby or if she is not exclusively breastfeeding after discharge from your facility.
Special attention should be given to high-risk mother and infant dyads to ensure expressed breastmilk or donor milk are used to help mom reach her feeding goal.2 Provide education to mothers on breast pumps such as safe use, cleaning and storage of breastmilk.
Primary Goals of Step 5
- Enable the mother-baby dyad to confidently and effectively breastfeed.
- Assist mothers to detect and address any difficulties that may be a barrier to maintaining lactation.
Ten Step Self-Assessment
Use the Ten Step Self-Assessment to help you evaluate your progress for this step. This self- assessment document does not have to be submitted with application.
New Applicants
- Use document checklist (PDF) to ensure appropriate support documentation is included with application.
- If your current practice does not meet these criteria, review the Ten Step Self-Assessment to assess how your facility might fully implement this step.
Re-Designation Applicants
- Review your individual Ten Step Scorecard from the last designation for change recommendations.
- Use the Ten Step Self-Assessment Tool to help plan for step-by-step improvement in any areas needed.
- Review the Baby Friendly USA, Inc. Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria to view full standard for this step.
Resources
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Hand Expression Demonstration
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Reverse Pressure Softening Demonstration
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Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Proper Storage and Preparation of Breastmilk
Information and guidelines to share with mothers and staff on proper storage and preparation of breastmilk.
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Center for Disease Control (CDC) How to Keep Your Breast Pump Clean
Information and guidelines to share with mothers and staff on cleaning of breast pump.