Maternity ward routines in Barcelona

: Twenty-one maternity wards in Barcelona were visited in order to evaluate the degree of compliance with the OMS/UNICEF guidelines for breast-feeding protection. Breast-feeding is initiated within the first hour after birth in only 2 of these hospitals. In only 5 cases is demand feeding encouraged. In only 6 of these maternity wards do the newborn babies remain with their mothers all day long and in only one are newborn babies not given water or dextrose. In only two hospitals is the pacifier discouraged. Furthermore, only two of the hospitals do not receive free formula supplies from the industry. Immediate changes are needed if the mother's right to breast-feed is to be protected.