The benefits of breastfeeding cannot be overstated. Evidence
shows that it not only boosts babies' health but also
aids in development. Recent guidelines released by the
Canadian Paediatric Society in early March echo this sentiment
and stress the importance of breastfeeding exclusively
for the first six months. But initiating this routine
isn't always easy, especially when health professionals
in hospital aren't equipped with the knowledge of how
to pass this skill on to new mums. It often becomes a
case of the blind leading the blind.
Enter the Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiative (BFHI). Launched in 1991 as a combined effort
between UNICEF and the WHO, the BFHI's aim is to support
new mothers and encourage breastfeeding. A study published
in the March issue of the Archives of Disease in
Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition looked at
the effect the BFHI had on Scottish hospitals. Results
clearly showed that the program works — mothers
who gave birth in baby-friendly hospitals were 28% more
likely to breastfeed.
The BFHI has more than 15,000 participating
hospitals in 134 countries. Unfortunately, Canada isn't
one of the forerunners — to date only three Canadian
hospitals and one birthing centre are deemed baby-friendly
by the initiative.
LACK
OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) approves
BFHI designation nationally. Health Canada helps fund
the project — albeit minimally — through the
Population Health Fund but their involvement isn't nearly
enough. Marianne Brophy is on the board of directors
of the BCC and worked with the BFHI when it was first
launched in Africa. She chairs the BCC's BFHI assessment
committee and believes that the only way this country
can get more baby-friendly is with adequate support
from both the province and the feds. "We are hoping
we can find some more federal money," she says.
CANADA'S
LEADER
The lack of federal support hasn't stopped some provinces
from bulldozing ahead to create baby-friendly environments.
"Quebec is leading the way," says Ms Brophy. "The provincial
government has put a lot of money into resources. Each
region has someone working with the BFHI and the health
facilities."
The first baby-friendly hospital
was in Cowansville, QC, about one hour south of Montreal.
The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins (BMP) Hospital in this
town was designated baby-friendly as early as 1999.
Christine Charest is the baby-friendly facilitator at
the BMP. She explains that the project brings together
doctors, nurses and other support staff under a common
goal: to give quality care centred on the needs of both
mother and newborn.
Since the BMP became baby-friendly,
breastfeeding rates have skyrocketed in this region.
"We now have breastfeeding rates of 93% and exclusive
breastfeeding among new mothers has reached 88%," Ms
Charest proudly admits. "This is a considerable jump,"
she adds, "but it's not the only benefit." The program
also upgrades hospital staffs' skills, knowledge and
competence. She adds that it has cut down on the workload
and increased the continuity of care to boot.
ONTARIO
FOLLOWS SUIT
The other large Canadian hospital that's baby-friendly
is St Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, ON. The hospital
was given the designation in 2003. "It created a community,"
says Hiltrud Dawson, a nurse at the hospital and the
newborn assessment coordinator. "[People in] the whole
maternity program were brought together. We had a common
goal." She explains that although the program is a success
today getting there wasn't always easy. "It took a lot
of persistence," she says, adding that some of the changes
only came about gradually. "It came to looking at research
and literature to make sure everything was safe. It
was important for the physicians in particular to have
that evidence."
Friends
of the initiative
Both the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
and the College of Family Physicians back the initiative.
"The SOGC supports this and wants to expand the idea
to a mother-baby friendly hospital," says Dr André
Lalonde, their executive vice-president.
Dr Perle Feldman, the CFPC rep
on the BCC board, adds, "We absolutely support this
program. I am working very hard to make my own hospital,
the Jewish General in Montreal, baby-friendly." This
is encouraging news and "There are many more Canadian
hospitals who are on the journey [to becoming baby-friendly],"
notes Ms Brophy.
Fore more information check
out www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/baby.htm
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