Yeah!  An editorial in the South African Medical Journal (SAMJ),
probably the journal reaching the most doctors here, came to my
attention yesterday.  The authors, Videlefsky, Nikodem and Hofmeyr,
conclude with the following recommendations:

"Health professionals should attempt to:
1. reject the myths surrounding breastfeeding practice;
2. reject the premise that hygienic bottle-feeding is just as good as
breastfeeding;
3. not impose restrictions on the duration or frequency of feeds;
4. not encourage the use of bottles or pacifiers in breastfed
infants;
5. terminate the practice of giving free milk powder samples
to mothers;
6. actively encourage women to breastfeed their babies;
7. know how to help a mother to position her baby correctly at the
breast;
8. be able to identify and treat early breastfeeding problems;
9. provide continuity and personal support based on sound knowledge
of breastfeeding;
10. form part of a larger network incorporating breastfeeding support
groups, clinics and any person/organisation involved with the
promotion and support of breastfeeding;  and
11. continually update their knowledge about benefits of
breastfeeding and advances in breastfeeding management and practices.
A. Videlefsky, C. Nikodem, G.J. Hofmeyr, Dept. of Obstetrics and
Gyneacology, Coronation Hospital, J.G. Strijdom Hospital and
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

from: "Step forward to the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding",
SAMJ Editorial, Volume 87, No.1, January 1997, pp23-24.

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Lynn Moony
Johannesburg, South Africa
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