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ICM speaks out on breast feeding
MIDWIFERY, 1985, 1, 47 © Longman Group 1985
I C M speaks out on breast feeding In response to growing concern about the practice of breast-feeding, particularly in the developing world where it is still declining, in favour of bottle-feeding, the International Confederation of Midwives adopted a policy, at their international congress, in Sydney 1984, which spells out clearly the great and urgent need for midwives to work much harder to increase the numbers of babies being breast fed. I C M states, in the same policy, its firm support for U N I C E F in its work to improve the survival rates of children in the world whose need is most desperate. The I C M statement of policy reads:
'The International Confederation of M idwives recog n ises: The right of all babies to be breast fed for at least the first 6 months of life, especially in parts of the world where malnutrition, morbidity and mortality are prevalent; The right of all mothers to proper advice, help, encouragement and counselling for successful breast feeding; The right of all families to accurate information about all aspects of breast feeding; The unique and vital role of the midwife in the promotion of breast feeding;
And therefore calls upon midwives all over the world: To ensure that, whenever possible, newborn babies have the opportunity to be put to the breast, for as long as they require, as soon as possible after birth, and thereafter whenever the mother and/or baby desires it; To ensure that special efforts are made in hospital to prevent sick or premature babies being deprived of their mothers' own milk; To ensure that national governments are properly informed about the need to promote breast feeding as the best means of nourishing babies, and of the importance of breast feeding in preventing neonatal
sickness and death, in providing a strong emotional bond between mother and child, and in spacing births; To urge national governments to encourage the provision of suitable breast feeding facilities for working mothers, and in all public places, and to provide adequate financial benefit, for at least the first 6 months of their babies' lives, for those mothers who choose not to undertake paid work while breast feeding; To encourage nurses, doctors and other health professionals to promote the value of breast feeding, and the role of the midwife in this field; To up-date their own knowledge of breast feeding, in all its aspects, at regular intervals; To teach students of midwifery the art and practice of breast feeding, as well as the scientific components of lactation and infant nutrition; To co-operate in the teaching of traditional birth attendants, ensuring their understanding of the practice of breast feeding, and to assist with information which would improve their knowledge, thus giving the women in the care of TBAs the fullest opportunity for breast feeding.
Furthermore, the International Confederation of Midwives: Shares the concern felt by U N I C E F for the State of the World's Childen, as indicated in the U N I C E F report of that name, dated 1984; Fully supports U N I C E F in its efforts to promote breast feeding all over the world; Endorses wholeheartedly the techniques indentified by U N I C E F to bring about a revolution for the survival of the children of the world, that is: Growth monitoring, Oral rehydration therapy, Breast feeding and Immunisation; Calls upon midwives, wherever they may be in the world, to become actively involved in the promotion of these techniques and, in particular, to work in co-operation and collaboration with their national governments, and with U N I C E F , in order to make the work of saving infant lives more ett~ctive.'
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I C M speaks out on breast feeding In response to growing concern about the practice of breast-feeding, particularly in the developing world where it is still declining, in favour of bottle-feeding, the International Confederation of Midwives adopted a policy, at their international congress, in Sydney 1984, which spells out clearly the great and urgent need for midwives to work much harder to increase the numbers of babies being breast fed. I C M states, in the same policy, its firm support for U N I C E F in its work to improve the survival rates of children in the world whose need is most desperate. The I C M statement of policy reads:
'The International Confederation of M idwives recog n ises: The right of all babies to be breast fed for at least the first 6 months of life, especially in parts of the world where malnutrition, morbidity and mortality are prevalent; The right of all mothers to proper advice, help, encouragement and counselling for successful breast feeding; The right of all families to accurate information about all aspects of breast feeding; The unique and vital role of the midwife in the promotion of breast feeding;
And therefore calls upon midwives all over the world: To ensure that, whenever possible, newborn babies have the opportunity to be put to the breast, for as long as they require, as soon as possible after birth, and thereafter whenever the mother and/or baby desires it; To ensure that special efforts are made in hospital to prevent sick or premature babies being deprived of their mothers' own milk; To ensure that national governments are properly informed about the need to promote breast feeding as the best means of nourishing babies, and of the importance of breast feeding in preventing neonatal
sickness and death, in providing a strong emotional bond between mother and child, and in spacing births; To urge national governments to encourage the provision of suitable breast feeding facilities for working mothers, and in all public places, and to provide adequate financial benefit, for at least the first 6 months of their babies' lives, for those mothers who choose not to undertake paid work while breast feeding; To encourage nurses, doctors and other health professionals to promote the value of breast feeding, and the role of the midwife in this field; To up-date their own knowledge of breast feeding, in all its aspects, at regular intervals; To teach students of midwifery the art and practice of breast feeding, as well as the scientific components of lactation and infant nutrition; To co-operate in the teaching of traditional birth attendants, ensuring their understanding of the practice of breast feeding, and to assist with information which would improve their knowledge, thus giving the women in the care of TBAs the fullest opportunity for breast feeding.
Furthermore, the International Confederation of Midwives: Shares the concern felt by U N I C E F for the State of the World's Childen, as indicated in the U N I C E F report of that name, dated 1984; Fully supports U N I C E F in its efforts to promote breast feeding all over the world; Endorses wholeheartedly the techniques indentified by U N I C E F to bring about a revolution for the survival of the children of the world, that is: Growth monitoring, Oral rehydration therapy, Breast feeding and Immunisation; Calls upon midwives, wherever they may be in the world, to become actively involved in the promotion of these techniques and, in particular, to work in co-operation and collaboration with their national governments, and with U N I C E F , in order to make the work of saving infant lives more ett~ctive.'
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