World Breastfeeding Week (1 - 7 August 2011)

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Hospitals to have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.

Train all healthcare staff in the skills necessary to implement the breastfeeding policy.

Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

Help mothers initiate breastfeeding soon after birth.

Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from their babies.

Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated. (Photo by Surfer Ananya)

Practice rooming-in, allowing mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.

Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

Give no artificial teats or dummies to breastfeeding infants.

Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.