UZ Leuven has outlined a breastfeeding policy on paper:
- All involved staff members learn the necessary skills to implement this policy.
- All pregnant women receive information during prenatal consultations and information sessions about the importance and practice of breastfeeding.
- We ensure immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth. This promotes the mother-child bond and contributes to the baby’s adjustment in terms of breathing, temperature, heart rate, blood sugar level, and immunity.
- We help mothers to put their baby to the breast within the first hour after birth.
- Every mother is taught how to position her baby at the breast and how to maintain her milk supply, even if the baby is separated from her.
- Newborns receive no other food than breast milk, unless recommended by a doctor.
- Mother and baby remain together in the same room day and night. In this way, the mother learns to recognise the baby’s needs and can respond quickly to signs of hunger or other cues.
- We encourage “feeding on demand”. This means breastfeeding whenever the baby shows signs of hunger.
- Breastfed newborns are not given a teat or dummy. This ensures they learn to feed properly at the breast and the milk supply is adequately stimulated.
- The maternity ward refers mothers to independent midwives, lactation consultants, breastfeeding organisations, and maternity care centres so that continuity of breastfeeding support can be maintained once mother and child are at home.
Last edit:
8 december 2024