How Samitivej Supports Breastfeeding

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital has been recognized as a Baby-Friendly Hospital by WHO and UNICEF since 2001
  • The hospital encourages mothers to consider adding ‘breastfeeding’ to their birth-plan and provides a booklet and workshop for practical knowledge of breastfeeding
  • The Bottle-Free Policy in hospital helps promote breastfeeding by having specialist support during the stay, then at home, including access to the lactation clinic after discharge

74% of moms who gave birth at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital in 2016 exclusively breastfed

The Lactation Clinic of Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital was created to provide a one-stop service to support successful breastfeeding. By 2001, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital had become internationally recognized by the WHO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Public Health as the first private hospital in Thailand to be designated as a “Baby-Friendly Hospital”. Valuing the importance of breastfeeding to both mom and baby, we tailor our clinical support to ensure the best results from this amazing experience that not only unites mom and baby but also benefits them both in many other ways.

We support breastfeeding (Bottle-Free Policy) in the Birth Unit, Nursery and Maternity Ward First day of doctor consultation

Samitivej is fully committed to encouraging and supporting breastfeeding. We provide all the necessary information about breastfeeding so that the mothers are best informed and able to include breastfeeding in their birth plan. During the first doctor consultation, the doctor or a nurse provides each expectant mom with a special breastfeeding booklet which includes lots of useful information about the benefits of breastfeeding, the correct preparation, and handy tips & advice, including a Q&A section on the most commonly asked questions. You can access a digital version of this booklet at the following link: https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/en/breastfeeding-handbook/

Antenatal Class

Besides the vital information that the mother receives on the first day of consultation, we encourage all mothers to join our Antenatal Classes. One of the sessions during this course provides further instruction from our specialist lactation nurse on how to prepare for breastfeeding. The Workshops are held every month from 09:00 AM – 16:00 PM. To let us know if you want to join, please fill out the form below or learn more about Childbirth Class, Click here.

I’m a Breastfed Baby

If you have not included breastfeeding in your birth plan, our nurse will ask you again on the day of childbirth if you want to take this option. For all breastfeeding moms, a breastfeeding label will be attached on the baby’s crib. If you want choose rooming in, the crib will be with you as long as you wish to have your baby with you. Samitivej’s specialist lactation doctors and nurses are on hand to support you during your stay in hospital. If you need any support or consultation, their contact number is with the telephone in every room.

Lactation Clinic

We understand that breastfeeding presents challenges for both mother and baby. After being discharged from hospital, if a mother needs support or practical advice, our Lactation Clinic can help by evaluating both mother and baby when you visit the clinic together. After the lactation consultant spends time with you and your baby, she will create a personalized plan for care and follow up. To find out more about our Lactation Clinic services, click here.

Our breastfeeding policy for our healthcare staff: 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding

The “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” were developed by the WHO and UNICEF to ensure that maternity services are providing the right start for every infant and the necessary support for mothers to breastfeed. Samitivej has implemented these guidelines since 2001.

  1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
  2. Train all health care staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.
  3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
  4. Help mother initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
  5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
  6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.
  7. Practice allowing rooming-in mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
  8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
  9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
  10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on their discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Exclusive Breastfeeding Award Ceremony

It is our protocol that our nursery team will keep in touch with mothers after they have been discharged from the hospital. We want to keep in touch with the mothers to see how else we can be of continued assistance to them in terms of advice and practical knowledge, especially in relation to breastfeeding. For any advice or support which cannot be given over the phone, we will advise a consultation visit with a lactation doctor at our Lactation Clinic. We keep a record of each visit and all the details so that we can use this statistical data for service development. Additionally, Samitivej also organizes an Exclusive Breastfeeding Award Ceremony at which we present a special trophy not only to those mothers who exclusively breastfed for 6 months and 1 year but also to our staff who also exclusively breastfed their own babies. These awards are just one part of our commitment to encouraging mothers to breastfeed.

Specialists and Professional Team

To maintain our high standards, our clinic is led by a Neonatologist, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a team of lactation nurses. We all work with you to help you meet your breastfeeding goals, and to feel more comfortable and confident in breastfeeding your baby so that he or she gets the very best start in life and an unbreakable bond is created between you.

Buppha Phaosawasd, M.D.

  • Certified International Board of Lactation Consultant
  • Diploma, American Board of Pediatrics

Meena Sobsamai, RNM, IBCLC

  • Certified International Board of Lactation Consultant
  • Graduate Diploma, Childbirth Education

Rating
Sign up

Already have an account?