Good practice to promote, initiate and support breastfeeding

Renfrew et al. (2000, p. 15) conducted a systematic review of interventions that support or interfere with breastfeeding and identified the following ‘key practice areas’ that supported breastfeeding:

• a positive informed attitude to breastfeeding; • effective positioning and attachment; • pain-free, effective feeding; • flexible patterns of feeding; • no routine use of bottles, teats, dummies and nipple shields; • evidence-based practice in maternity units.