Canada Breastfeeds News
Manitoba Infant Feeding Study Highlights Policy Need
The results of the Manitoba Breastfeeding Promotion Steering Committee's
survey to determine consistency between breastfeeding policies and practices
was recently published. In three separate surveys -- hospital
administrators, nursing staff and mothers -- hospital policies, practices
and outcomes were determined.
The administrator's survey was completed in 43 out of 51 eligible
hospitals and showed that 55 per cent agreed that breastfeeding education
for staff was a priority; although 24 per cent received funding from infant
formula companies, 75 per cent reported receiving free or subsidized formula
supplies. At hospitals with more than 500 births, 71 per cent received
formula industry funding and 100 per cent accepted free supplies.
The nursing staff survey was completed by 423 (response rate of 67 per
cent); 72 per cent always helped initiate breastfeeding within one hour of
birth, 50 per cent advised mothers not to use bottles; 74 per cent sometimes
gave babies glucose and water or formula; 69 per cent sometimes gave
pacifiers; 37 per cent always told mothers how to get in touch with a
support group.
The mothers' survey indicated some interesting discrepancies between the
nursing and mothers' responses. For example 92 per cent of mothers reported
that they fed their infants when they were hungry, yet 62 per cent of
nursing staff reported always or sometimes encouraged waiting 2 hours
between feeds. Mothers reported 46 per cent of infants were given pacifiers,
yet 71 per cent of nursing staff stated they always or sometimes used
pacifiers. Also only 49 per cent of mothers reported being told about the
benefits of breastfeeding; only 50 per cent of babies were breastfed within
the first hour after birth and 61 per cent reported their babies being
supplemented while in hospital.
Importantly when comparing these survey results to those of 1993, more
hospitals had written policies, there was decreased use of supplementation
and fewer mothers received gift packs in 1996.
Martens, Patricia J. et al. How Baby-friendly are
Manitoba's Hospitals? The Provincial Infant Feeding Study. Can J of Publ
Health 91:51-57, 2000
Breastfeeding Protocols for Health Care Providers
Health care providers are a significant source of breastfeeding
information and counselling for expectant and new mothers. The literature
reveals that inadequate and inconsistent breastfeeding care from health care
providers can have a negative impact on the mother's breastfeeding
experience and the duration of breastfeeding.
The Breastfeeding Protocols for Health Care Providers is a manual
developed by the Scarborough Breastfeeding Network with the goal of
promoting accurate and consistent breastfeeding care. There are 20 protocol
topics that address breastfeeding challenges in the postpartum period with a
focus on healthy full-term infants. Topics include: breastfeeding
initiation, effective breastfeeding, achieving a latch, effective suck, milk
supply, drugs, introduction of complementary foods, and much more.
The protocols have been adopted by Toronto Public Health with plans to
implement at three Scarborough hospital sites and York Region Health
Services.
The Breastfeeding Protocols for Health Care Providers
is available at a cost of $15.00 per manual (including shipping and
handling). An order form can be obtained through Toronto Public Health by:
calling (416) 396-7453; fax (416) 396-5299 or e-mail beal@city.toronto.on.ca.
Ottawa-Carlton Health Department Sets up Code Committee
After awareness and discussions on code implementation, the
Ottawa-Carlton Breastfeeding Promotion Committee set up a code committee one
year ago. To date it has made significant progress:
- Developed statements on:
> the impact of bottles on breastfeeding outcomes,
> the hazards of improper preparation of formula,
> breastfeeding your baby,
> storing your breastmilk.
- Developed a form letter to alert magazine editors of unsuitability of
advertisements.
- Changed procedures for teaching about formula preparations _ now only
to those who chose to have the information.
- Reviewed suitability of videos for prenatal classes. The CPS video
Babies First Months, showing equivalency between breast and bottle
feeding was found to be unsuitable and staff were notified about the
reasons for not showing the video.
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