Maria Parham announces plan to become Breastfeeding Friendly
6/23/2011
Maria Parham Medical Center is excited to announce its plan to become a part of the North Carolina Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation Program. This program has been recently developed to recognize maternity centers in NC that are taking steps to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding within their organization.
A star will be awarded for every two steps of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. These Ten Steps, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Baby Friendly USA, are listed as follows:
- Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff;
- Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy;
- Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding;
- Help all mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth;
- Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants;
- Give newborns no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated;
- Practice rooming-in to allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours per day;
- Encourage breastfeeding on demand;
- Give no artificial teats or pacifiers; and
- Foster the establishment of breast-feeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.
One of the biggest changes that has taken place at Maria Parham is the decision to no longer accept free formula or free breast milk substitutes from the formula companies to distribute to patients while in the hospital. With this step, the free bag with a formula sample will no longer be given at discharge. This practice has been proven to undermine a mother’s decision to breastfeed exclusively during the vulnerable first few days at home. Exclusive breastfeeding gives the greatest benefits to mothers and babies.
Maria Parham Medical Center is excited about the steps they are taking to encourage healthy babies and healthy moms. Breast milk provides the best nutrition for babies, and we strive to help a mother be successful with this endeavor.
For information about the importance of breastfeeding, please call Maria Parham Medical Center’s Lactation Department at 252-436-1414.
For more information on this new designation, go to http://www.nutritionnc.com/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-friendly.htm.