1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to
all health care staff and volunteers.
2. Train all health care providers in the knowledge and skills necessary to
implement the breastfeeding policy.
3. Inform pregnant women and their families about the importance and
process of breastfeeding.
4. Place babies in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately
following birth for at least an hour, until completion of the first
feeding, or as long as the mother wishes.
5. Encourage mothers to recognize when their babies are ready to feed,
offering help as needed.
6. Help mothers to breastfeed and maintain lactation should they face
challenges including separation from their infants. Infants are not offered
food or drink other than human milk for the first six months, unless
medically indicated.
7. Facilitate 24-hour rooming-in for all mothers and infants.
8. Encourage baby-led or cue-based breastfeeding.
9. Encourage sustained breastfeeding beyond six months with the appropriate
introduction of complementary foods. Support mothers to feed and care for
their breastfeeding babies without the use of artificial teats or pacifiers
(dummies or soothers).
10. Provide a seamless transition between the services provided by the
hospital, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, community partner
organizations and peer support programs.
