Bayhealth is pleased to announce Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus has been re-designated as a Baby-Friendly birth facility. Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus received its Baby-Friendly re-designation earlier this year.
The international award is given by Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., as part of a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. More specifically, the award is presented to birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.
“The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative also includes access to education on all methods of effective, safe feeding for infants based on individualized circumstances and choices,” said Bayhealth Lactation Services Program Coordinator Gail Smith, RN, IBCLC.
The Baby-Friendly re-designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice what are known as the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, as demonstrated by quality processes.
“I am very proud of the staff at the Sussex Campus who persevere to uphold the requirements of the Baby-Friendly program, not for the accolade of the award, but because helping mothers to be successful with breastfeeding is what is best for the baby and provides the mothers with a healthy start to a beautiful relationship with their infant,” said Bayhealth Senior Director of Women’s and Children’s Services Cheryl Hewlett, PhD, MBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC.
There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently, there are 582 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States. Visit BabyFriendlyUsa.org for more information about the designation and the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
Visit Bayhealth.org/Breastfeeding-Support to learn more about how Bayhealth supports breastfeeding through education and other lactation services.
