Presentation Information

Baby Friendly in the Netherlands

• Speaker: Caroline Kruger , LLM, IBCLC
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits: 1 CERP, 1 Nursing CEU, 1 CME, 0.1 Midwifery CEU, 1 Dietetic CEU

Abstract:

We changed the Dutch BFHI designation system. All Steps are part of our Standards. We have organisational and clinical standards. At the time this abstract is written, WHO and UNICEF are in the process of changing the BFHI programme. So, we do not know how this will impact our work in the Netherlands where virtually all new families (>97%) are assisted in caring for each newborn during the first 10 days by maternity nurses, employed by BFHI designated companies (our Dutch kraamzorg system).

The shift of focus from breastfeeding to baby is aimed to have families sustain breastfeeding for longer than the current median of 7 weeks. All parents should be educated on what a baby needs. In order to do this, we introduced the blueprint of babies. This includes all new born feeding behaviours that we know from breastfed babies. Thus we made breastfeeding the norm, implicitly.