Just as we sometimes criticize certain actions little committed to the promotion of breastfeeding, today it is a joy to share the news that two Valencian health centers They are deeply engaged in the promotion of breastfeeding.
The health centers of Fuensanta and Barrio de la Luz in Valencia are eligible for the IHAN Spain award. The acronym corresponds to the Initiative for the Humanization of Birth and Breastfeeding Assistance, an initiative promoted by WHO and UNICEF with the aim of promoting and supporting breastfeeding.
To achieve this, they have launched a pioneering action plan in Spain, which we hope will be extended as soon as possible to other health centers.
It consists of putting into practice the ten steps towards a happy breastfeeding, which in summary are: having an adequate policy, training staff, training pregnant women, starting breastfeeding during the half hour after delivery, teaching mothers techniques and how to maintain breastfeeding, give the newborn breast milk exclusively, facilitate joint housing, encourage breastfeeding on demand, not give bottles and pacifiers (at least until the LM is installed), and encourage establishment of support groups.
All this will be complemented with the requirements of the Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, with the objective that both professionals and mothers work together in the aspects that facilitate being able to offer the baby the best feeding that he can receive.
