Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Breastfeeding Policy - help needed from those in the know!

11 replies

susanmt · 14/11/2002 23:04

This is really on behalf of my husband I am asking! He is a GP and is on our local Maternity Services Review Body for the Health Board. The next meeting is to discuss breastfeeding policy. He is very enthusiastic about bf (in a totally normal way lol!) and is wondering how he can get this accross - we have the lowest breastfeeding rates in Scotland. He wants to encourage the formation of a strongly pro-bf policy but doesn't really know much abou the way in which this policy should be formulated. Is there a specific person at NCT etc who can help him, and can anyone point him in the direction of good research that shows what works in encouraging people to start and continue to bf?
Thanks so much!

OP posts:
tiktok · 15/11/2002 01:15

It's not NCT you want, Susan...though NCT would support any venture like that ....but the Scottish National Breastfeeding Adviser - 01698 429429. There is tons of good bf support in Scotland, and lots of information. You can look on www.show.scot.nhs.uk/breastfeed

Good luck!

SofiaAmes · 15/11/2002 09:22

susanmt, imo, the problem doesn't lie so much with the policies, but with the practice. When I had my children at 2 different london hospitals which were both supposedly pro-bfing, I was amazed at how little help/instruction was given on HOW to bf. Luckily I had no trouble, but there were many women around me who were clearly having trouble and were not getting help. Generally it seemed to be simple things like how to hold the baby. I would guess that the majority of them did not perservere with the bfing. I think it's probably absolutely crucial that there is instruction given in the last month of preganancy and during the first few hours after birth. I don't think it needs to be from a mid-wife, just someone trained in bfing.

WideWebWitch · 15/11/2002 09:26

What about La Leche League? Might they be able to help? Their website is here

Bron · 15/11/2002 09:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elliott · 15/11/2002 10:00

A practical suggestion - in our area the NHS offers a one day breastfeeding course for pregnant women - basically focussing very much on how to get the correct positioning of the baby on the breast - very practical with dolls for practice! I found it absolutely invaluable for getting a problem free start - so many difficulties seem to stem from incorrect positioning. Back that up with well informed community midwives and it should make a real difference for the group of women who want to bf, but abandon it very early.
HTH

elliott · 15/11/2002 10:03

There is also a code of practice for hospitals about being baby friendly - WHO I think - which covers all the things you'd expect, like not offering formula etc etc. But personally I think concrete practical services are more effective than well meaning words!

JanZ · 15/11/2002 10:41

When I talked to one of the breast feeding counsellors at my maternity hosptial (she's one of the midwives at the Queen Mum's in Glasgow), she said that so much of bf came down to early examples and almost needed to be started/encouraged (not literally!) at school. The "problem" with the bf workshops etc (and I went to one too and found it very useful) is that only those who are already interested in bf will go along. BUT they do have a positive effect in that the more people that are seen bf, then the more the "trickle down" effect will occur. (Personally, I hope I have encouraged my cousin's girlfriend to bf, should they ever get it together!)

There was(/is!) a bf support group that met every week in the maternity hospital - so I actually went along for the first time when ds was only a few days old and I was still an in-patient! (he'd had jaundice so I was in a wee bit longer than usual while he underwent phototherapy). What was good about it was that you knew where it was and could get into the routine very easily - as opposed to having to hunt around ONCE you'd hit problems.

Support in the very early days is very important - the midwives in the hospital had to spend ages with me helping to get ds latched on. With one exception, they all did so with good grace and patience.

The Queen Mum's is a UNICEF "Baby Friendly" hospital, so they didn't have any formula made up, although would make it up on request.

Glasgow also has a dreadul record in bf, so they have to work really hard for only a modicum of success. The amount of bf is still heavily postcode related (ie it's a "middle class" thing). They are working hard to try to change that. (Unfortunately, I only contribute to the middle class statistics!)

tiktok · 15/11/2002 12:45

Susan, there will be a link to Baby friendly in the community, UNICEF initiative, from the Scottish bf site I gave you.

Policies are vital, as long as they are put into practice, monitored and stuck to!

Eulalia · 15/11/2002 20:37

Thanks Bron but my research on policy issues is weak. There is a policy supposidly in force - I forget what it is called - Baby Friendly Initiative I think but will have a look...

Eulalia · 15/11/2002 20:38

Sorry tiktok I think you already mentioned it - too many glasses of wine this evening

susanmt · 28/11/2002 07:41

Hi there - and thanks for all the advice. Dh was at the meeting last night and the maternity service said they are expected (not sure by who) to implement the baby friendly programme by 2005. Going to ba a VERY uphill struggle here where half the midwives don't promote it - but it will be good for them - not to mention the babies!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread