What does "Baby Friendly" mean?
Baby Friendly is a distinguished certification granted to hospitals that meet the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
Local Hospitals:
Dignity Health Methodist Hospital
Dignity Health Mercy Hospital of Folsom
Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital
Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center
Marshall Medical Center
Sutter Medical Center Sacramento
Sutter Davis Hospital
University of California Davis Medical Center
What are the "Ten Steps"?
To qualify as a Baby-Friendly Hospital, hospitals must follow a set of ten steps to ensure that all mothers receive excellent breastfeeding services, education, and support from well-trained staff. Here is a practical example of ways hospitals may meet all 10 steps.
A breastfeeding policy is made known to all hospital staff.
All relevant staff are trained in the skills and resources necessary to carry out this policy.
Patients are taught the benefits of breastfeeding as well as how to breastfeed (i.e. in a prenatal clinic, during their hospital stay, in a postpartum clinic and in support groups).
Nurses help mother and baby breastfeed within the first hour after birth.
Nurses teach mothers how to maintain lactation when away from her baby.
Breastfeeding babies are NOT given formula unless absolutely medically indicated.
Mother and baby stay together in the same room; skin-to-skin bonding is encouraged throughout the hospital stay.
Nurses teach mothers how to recognize baby hunger cues.
Breastfeeding babies are NOT given pacifiers or bottles.
Ongoing support is available to mothers in some capacity (i.e. clinic hours, support groups).
My hospital is not BF designated, is this bad?
Absolutely not! There are plenty of amazing family birthing centers locally (Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Roseville for example) that have not received designation under this initiative but that likely have many similar practices in place that support moms and babies in complementary ways. I have experienced several hospitals where they are not designated as BF, but they practice almost (if not all) of the steps clinically.
Talk to your OBGYN or midwife about your specific facility for more information.
#babyfriendlyusa #babyfriendly #breastbeginnings #breastfeedingmama #pregnancy #firsttrimester #secondtrimester #thirdtrimester #fourthtrimester #breastmilk
References:
Feldman-Winter, L., Ustianov, J., Anastasio, J., Butts-Dion, S., Heinrich, P., Merewood, A., Bugg, K, Donohue-Rolfe, S., & Homer, C. (2017). Best Fed Beginnings: A Nationwide QI Initiative to Increase Breastfeeding. Pediatrics. 140(1), 1-9.
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