Six take-home brochures provide illustrated and easy-to-follow guidelines to enable prenatal and postpartum women to make informed decisions about which infant feeding option is the most acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable, and safe (AFASS) for each individual's situation and to help women safely practice the option selected. The brochures graphically depict the step-by-step procedures for women to use in carrying out each of the four infant feeding options.
How to Breastfeed Your Baby
This take-home brochure provides mothers with an illustrated guide and detailed step-by-step instructions on how to start and continue breast feeding. It provides information on how to recognize and prevent problems, lists signs to look out for, and identifies what mothers need to remember and know.
How to Hand Express Breast Milk
This illustrated brochure graphically depicts and provides mothers with instructions on how to hand express. It includes points to remember and tells mothers how to safely store and feed the milk to the baby. This method is being promoted for use by HIV-positive mothers during the transition from exclusive breastfeeding to replacement feeding in order to minimize the dangerous period of mixed feeding.
How to Heat Treat Breast Milk
An insert to the above brochure shows how to safely heat breast milk.
How to Feed Your Baby Fresh Cow's Milk
HIV-positive mothers who opt to feed fresh cow's milk to their babies are given a complete list of steps and ingredients needed for safely modifying and feeding fresh cow’s milk to babies. The brochure outlines how to make fresh cow’s milk more nutritionally appropriate for infants. It visually presents the preparation process, stresses the importance of hygiene, and encourages the use of cup feeding. Additional points to remember are covered.
How to Feed Your Baby Infant Formula
HIV-positive mothers who opt to use commercial infant formula to feed their babies are given a complete list of steps needed to safely prepare formula and feed their babies. The brochure visually presents the preparation process, stresses the importance of hygiene and encourages the use of cup feeding. Additional points to remember are covered.
Nutrition: During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are reminded of the importance of taking a test to determine HIV-status. By becoming aware of their status, HIV-positive women are then able to consult their healthcare providers to determine an appropriate course of action for antiretroviral therapy and nutrition. The brochure points out that good nutrition is especially important to HIV-positive mothers and their infants and gives illustrated pointers on safely preparing foods and planning balanced meals. General points covering meal frequency, water consumption, and diet supplementation are given, and women are reminded to follow their healthcare providers' instructions.
Feeding a Baby: After Six Months
This brochure addresses questions that mothers may have regarding how to feed babies who, after six months, are beginning to eat semi-solid foods. HIV-positive women, the brochure notes, should consult a healthcare provider to determine whether it would be best to give another type of milk in place of breast milk. It points out that after 6 months, babies need to gradually begin eating a variety of foods and gives information on types of foods, as well as correct consistency and amounts, to give to babies aged 6, 7-8, 9-12, and 12-24 months. The brochure gives instructions for safe food preparation and storage and covers a range of other points.