Medidas Medical Center INC Lactation Training Management Session-14-On-Going-Support-for-Mothers

1. On-Going Support
for Mothers
Step 10

2. 1. Describe how to prepare a mother for
discharge;
2. Discuss availability of follow-up and
support after discharge;
3. Outline ways of protecting breastfeeding
for employed women;
4. Discuss sustaining breastfeeding for the
second year or longer;
5. Discuss group support for breastfeeding.
Session Objectives:

3. Step 10
Foster the establishment of BF support
groups and refer mothers to them on
discharge from the hospital or clinic
Health facility
–initiate and establish BF or safer
feeding when necessary
–assure BF support upon discharge

4. Before mother leaves the health facility,
she should :
1. Be able to feed her baby.
2. Understand the importance of exclusive
breastfeeding for 6 months and continued
BF after the introduction of complementary
foods to two years and beyond.
3. Be able to recognize that feeding is going
well.
4. Find out how to get the on-going support
that she needs.
cont

5. Before mother leaves the health facility,
she should :
5. Understand the importance
of exclusive breastfeeding
for 6 months and continued
BF after the introduction of
complementary foods to two
years and beyond.
cont

6. Before mother leaves the health facility,
she should :
6. Be able to recognize
that feeding is going
well.
cont

7. Before mother leaves the health facility,
she should :
7. Find out how to get
the on-going support
that she needs.

8. Follow up and support after
discharge
Resources available in the local community :
 Family and friends
 Primary and community
health workers
 Mother to mother
support groups
cont

9. Mother to mother support groups:
 Usually in her community
 One on one or group based
 Help is accessible and free or very
inexpensive
 Experienced mothers who lead have been
trained to give support
 Feeding and caring is seen as normal
activities

10. Developing a mother to mother
support group
 They need a warm-hearted and kind facilitator
 Identify “ facilitator”
 Provide accurate information and help
 Encourage the group to meet
 Introduce mothers to nearest facilitators
 Be available to the facilitators
 Include them in trainings

11. When formal support is not
available:
 Discuss what family support she has at
home
 Talk with family members
 Give contact person in the facility
 Follow up 2-3 days after discharge
 Remind key points of optimal feeding
 Give written materials
 If possible, you contact mothers

12. Baby Friendly communities
- A health facility or local health care system
that actively supports early and exclusive BF
- Ten Steps to a successful breastfeeding
- Mother-to mother support in place
- Compliance to Milk Code is practiced
- Local or civil society creates activities that
supports optimal breastfeeding practices

13. Protecting BF in employed
women
For the mother:
 Less illness for
baby
 Ease of nite
feeds
 Bonding
 Chance to rest
 Special
relationship with
baby
For employer:
 Less absences from work -
Children healthy
 Mom can concentrate on her
work
 Retains skilled workers
 Interested in working for
supportive employers
 Breastfed babies grow up to
be a health future workforce

14. Discuss with mother who is
preparing to return to work
 Could baby go with her?
 Could baby be cared for near her
workplace?
 Could she work for shorter hours
till baby is older?
 If not...
cont

15. If not...
 BF exclusively and frequently during
maternity leave.
 Bf when mother is around.
 Do not start other feeds before needed.
 Learn to express milk.
 express every 3 hrs at work.
 Cares to give EBM by cup.
 Contact & get support from other working
mothers.
EBM – expressed breast milk

16. Sustaining continued BF for 2 yrs
or longer
 BF cont to provide closeness to mother,
protection from illness , good nutrition.
 BF a older baby/young child is valuable if the
child is ill.
 BF is soothing to child in pain or upset.
 BF older baby is different from BF a newborn.
 Young children BF only 1-2x; when upset.

17. Complementary Feeding
 After 6 months, breastfeeding baby needs
additional foods to complement it.
 Breastmilk is the main part of a baby’s diet
until he eats a variety of food.
 BF before giving complementary foods.
 A child stops breastfeeding when they are
ready as a natural part of their
development.

18. Other national health programs
for mother and child
 Safe motherhood programmes
 IMCI
 EPI
 Micronutrient supplementation
program for iron and vit A
 Neonatal screening program
 Early Child Development program
 Family planning program