Exclusively Breastfed for the First Two Days After Birth

It is common in many countries to give newborns other foods and liquids apart from breastmilk in the first few days after birth, such as sugar water, honey, alternative milks or tea. This practice can delay newborns' first critical contact with their mother, and can make it more difficult to establish breastfeeding over the long term. Therefore, this indicator measures the extent to which the WHO recommendation of feeding only breastmilk is followed.

Collect the following data by conducting individual interviews with mothers of (a representative sample of) children aged 0 - 23 months:

RECOMMENDED SURVEY QUESTION (Q) AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS (A)

Q1: How long after birth did you put [child's name] to the breast?

A1: _

1) within one hour of birth

2) within ________ hours of birth

3) within ________ days of birth

4) child was never breastfed

5) does not remember

(ask the following question only if the child was breastfed within the first two days after birth)

Q2: In the first two days after delivery, was [child's name] given anything other than breast milk to eat or drink – anything at all like water, infant formula, or [insert common drinks and foods, including ritual feeds, that may be given to newborn infants]?

A2: _ 

1) yes

2) no

3) doesn't remember

If the respondent has more than one child aged 0 - 23 months, ask Q1 and Q2 about all the children aged 0 - 23 months. 

To calculate the indicator's value, divide the number of children aged 0 - 23 months who were fed exclusively with breast milk (see below) for the first two days after birth by the total number of surveyed children aged 0 - 23 months (excluding those who did not remember). Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage. 

1) According to WHO/UNICEF (see below), exclusive breastfeeding is defined as breastfeeding with no other food or drink, not even water. Breastfeeding by a wet nurse, feeding of expressed breast milk, and feeding of human donor milk all count as being fed breast milk. Prescribed medicines, oral rehydration solution, vitamins and minerals are not counted as fluids or foods. However, herbal fluids and similar traditional medicines are counted as fluids, and infants who consume these are not exclusively breastfed.