HOSPITAL ROUTINES
Hospital routines markedly influence
breastfeeding success. The Sections on
Breastfeeding and Perinatal Pediatrics
have published the Sample Hospital
Breastfeeding Policy, which is based on
the Ten Steps program of the Baby-
Friendly Hospital Initiative endorsed
by the AAP in 2009. Implementation of
specific postpartum hospital practices
increases breastfeeding success: early
skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding;
exclusive breastfeeding with no water,
glucose water, or commercial infant
formula supplementation unless med-
ically indicated; rooming-in with un-
restricted breastfeeding; avoidance of
pacifiers; and a plan for follow-up after
discharge from the hospital. Emphasis
is placed on the need to revise or
discontinue disruptive hospital policies
that interfere with these practices.
The CDC National Survey of Maternity
Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care
assessed lactation practices in most
US birth centers and noted that the
mean score for implementation of the
Ten Steps program was only 65%,
602 FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
reinforcing a need for a major con-
ceptual change in the organization of
the hospital services for the mother
and infant dyad. Significant numbers of
hospitals regularly offered commer-
cial infant formula supplementation
to breastfeeding mothers, erroneously
advised mothers to limit suckling at the
breast to a specified length of time,
routinely provided pacifiers, distributed
discharge bags containing commercial
infant formula, did not have model
breastfeeding policies, and did not pro-
vide support for breastfeeding mothers
after discharge. Only one-third of cen-
ters practiced more than 5 of the 10
steps, and only 3.5% practiced 9 to 10
steps. The importance of addressing
the issue of the impact of hospital
practices and policies on breastfeeding
outcomes is highlighted by the decision
of The Joint Commission to adopt the
rate of exclusive human milk feeding
as a Perinatal Care Core Measure.
Hospitals also need to include in their
policies the appropriate timing of the
administration of vitamins K and D. In-
tramuscular vitamin K should be ad-
ministered to all infants on the first day
to reduce the risk of hemorrhagic dis-
ease of the newborn, but its adminis-
tration should be delayed until after the
first breastfeeding but not later than
6 hours of age. Vitamin D deficiency/
insufficiency and rickets have increased
in all infants as a result of decreased
sunlight exposure secondary to changes
in lifestyle, dress habits, and use of
topical sunscreens. Thus, all breastfed
infants should receive an oral sup-
plement of vitamin D, 400 U per day,
beginning at hospital discharge.