It all started in the hospital.

Báo Thừa Thiên Huế•18/04/2023

Reduce risk, increase bonding.

Ms. Ho Thi Hanh, from Vinh Ha, Phu Vang, recently gave birth to her first child. The baby was born skin-to-skin with the mother and received its first drops of breast milk. “Thanks to the hospital’s advice from the time I was pregnant, I felt less anxious. The nurses even showed me how to hold my baby and how to get the correct latch… Only now do I understand the many benefits of breastfeeding and how it fosters bonding and sharing within the family,” Ms. Hanh recounted.

The Sustainable Development Goals Survey on Children and Women (SDGCW) shows that in Vietnam, less than one in four children are breastfed within the first hour after birth. Less than half of children under six months old (45.4%) are exclusively breastfed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding within the first hour after birth helps babies take full advantage of the mother's precious colostrum and reduces risks for both mother and baby.

Phu Vang Health Center (PHC) was recognized as an outstanding hospital for the Newborn Care Program (NCBSM) in 2020, becoming the first unit under the Department of Health to receive this title. Dr. Nguyen Minh Hung, Deputy Director of PHC, stated: "Recognizing the clear benefits of NCBSM, we are determined to build and achieve this goal. The most decisive action is the ban on marketing infant formula; violations will be severely punished. This title enhances the prestige of PHC, and mothers in neighboring districts also choose this center for childbirth. This achievement is the result of a long journey and significant efforts by our team.”

Ms. Vo Thi Trang from Phong Hoa commune, Phong Dien district, returned home from the South to give birth to her first child, filled with anticipation. Her time at Phong Dien Health Center was filled with systematic first-time postpartum care practices, supported by medical staff. “Thanks to the doctors and nurses who provided information, I learned about the many benefits of postpartum care. It allows mothers to fulfill their sacred role and reduces the financial burden on the family. I will persevere on this journey to strengthen the bond between mother and child,” Ms. Trang confidently stated.

Love and sharing

The "Excellent Breastfeeding Practice Hospital" is a project implemented by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Alive & Thirive Southeast Asia Program. The title "Excellent Breastfeeding Practice Hospital" is awarded when a healthcare facility meets three criteria: achieving at least level 4 of criterion E1.3 on breastfeeding; meeting the requirements of the checklists on essential maternal and newborn care during and immediately after birth and breastfeeding; and meeting the requirements of the postpartum mother survey…

At hospitals awarded this title, doctors and nurses not only adhere to the guidelines and procedures of the WHO and the Ministry of Health regarding breastfeeding in childbirth, but also provide support and advice from the mother's pregnancy to the baby's birth. At Phong Dien and Phu Vang Health Centers, midwives are all well-trained and certified in breastfeeding. Phu Vang Health Center also has a breast milk storage cabinet and two breast pumps to help mothers feel more secure in safely storing breast milk in the first few days after birth.

Ms. Dang Thi Thu Suong, a nursing graduate in obstetrics and gynecology at Phu Vang Health Center, who actively participated in the initial phase, also learned valuable lessons from the 20-month breastfeeding program. From there, she shared her experiences with many mothers, from the time they gave birth until they returned to work, while still maintaining breastfeeding. “Once you understand and master the knowledge, breastfeeding is no longer a 'tough battle' but a journey filled with love, sharing, and the support of family and healthcare professionals,” Ms. Suong said.

A female worker gave birth to her first child at Phu Vang Medical Center and spent three stressful days struggling to breastfeed, but without success. Alongside her, the nursing staff of the Reproductive Health and Obstetrics Department explained the situation to the family and provided active support, and now the baby is six months old and has been breastfeeding. Whenever she encountered problems, the young mother would call the nurses for advice. In some cases, the nurses even came to her home to help the family.

Phu Vang Health Center receives 150-200 postpartum mothers from Phu Vang, Huong Thuy, and Phu Loc districts each month. Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan, Head Nurse of the Postpartum Care and Maternal and Child Health Department, shared: “People in rural areas don't fully understand postpartum care, so they often buy formula milk to bring along. Therefore, counseling starts from the time mothers are pregnant so they can gradually prepare, like a slow but steady rain. Monitoring continues until the 42nd day postpartum at home.”

Phong Dien Health Center receives approximately 300 births each year. Although this number is not large, the unit strives to meet the criteria set for the benefit of mothers and newborns. Dr. Tran Thien Phuoc, Head of the Maternal and Child Health Care Department at Phong Dien Health Center, shared: “To be recognized as a Maternal and Child Health Center, we have to go through inspections, evaluations, monitoring, interviews, and observations on more than 150 items across 12 checklists to assess the criteria of the specialized agency. Here, there is absolutely no presence of formula milk.”

The Breastfeeding Support Initiative aims to promote a child-friendly care environment. Infants are breastfed for 6 months and continue to be breastfed until 24 months. Breastfeeding support contributes to reducing infant morbidity rates and improving mothers' knowledge.

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