Women’s Hospital Receives Top Designation for Breast-Feeding

Women’s Hospital has received the top North Carolina Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation from the North Carolina Division of Public Health. The 5 star designation reflects the hospital’s efforts to implement policies and practices that encourage women to breast-feed.

“Breast-feeding is one of the best ways to improve the health and well-being of both mother and infant,” says Women’s Hospital President Cindy Farrand. “It is great to be recognized for our efforts in improving the health of our moms and newborns.” The North Carolina Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation is valid for three years.

The designation is based on the World Health Organization’s Ten Steps to Successful

Breastfeeding. These steps support initiation, exclusivity and continuation of breast-feeding:

1. Have a written breast-feeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breast-feeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breast-feeding within one hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breast-feed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming in – allow mothers and infants to remain together – 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breast-feeding on demand.
9. Don’t provide bottle nipples or pacifiers to breast-feeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breast-feeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Participating facilities in North Carolina earn a star for every two steps implemented from the Ten Steps. This initiative is endorsed by the North Carolina Hospital Association and the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force.

 The breast-feeding designation is the latest accolade Women’s Hospital has received for its commitment to breast feeding. Previously, Women’s Hospital received a “Baby Friendly” designation in December 2014 from Baby-Friendly USA, Inc.