A silent revolution--changes in maternity ward routines with regard to infant feeding in Norway 1973-1982

Identical surveys of feeding routines were conducted in all Norwegian maternity wards in 1973 and 1982. The first survey was followed up by a set of recommendations on routines conducive to breastfeeding. Significant positive changes had taken place between the two surveys. Breastfeeding was in 1982 initiated within two hours in nearly all wards. Some form of demand feeding and rooming in for a large part of the day, had been adopted by a majority of the maternity wards. The use of supplements to breastfeeding had shifted from extensive use of home made cow's milk mixtures to sugar water and infant formulas "when needed". The use of human milk from milk banks had increased, but was still not universal, even in the large wards. Most maternity wards were still test weighing infants before and after feedings. The above changes have taken place in a period when the rate of breastfeeding has increased significantly in Norway.