Abstract Body

WHO and UNICEF have long recognized the need to promote exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life and sustained breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods up to 2 years of age or beyond. USF São João do Estoril is currently applying for ACES Cascais Accreditation as a Baby-Friendly Health Centre and preparing a notebook with the 10 Steps of Breastfeeding. The third step includes counseling and informing all pregnant women and their families about the benefits and practice of breastfeeding.

We created a Breastfeeding Counselling Stamp to add to the Pregnant Health Bulletin - a tool for transmitting health data between primary health care and hospitals. This Stamp should complement the existing data in the Bulletin, addressing the desire of the pregnant women to breastfeed after birth and guarantee that the counselling is standardized, in the best interest of women and new-borns. The counselling must be given in at least two Maternal Health Medical or Nursing appointments and the Stamp must be filled out.

The main goal is to improve counselling and empower all pregnant women on breastfeeding. Additionally, address the impact of the Breastfeeding Counseling Stamp and standardize the information given to pregnant women between both primary health care and hospitals.

With the Breastfeeding Counselling Stamp we should be able to improve breastfeeding counselling and highlight the pregnant women’s desire to breastfeed with the hospital professionals where delivery will take place.