Maria Parham Receives NC Maternity Center Breast-Feeding Friendly Designation

8/30/2011

MPMC Receives NC Maternity Center Breast-Feeding Friendly Designation from the NC Division of Public Health

 

Maria Parham Medical Center has very recently received the North Carolina Maternity Center Breast-Feeding Friendly Designation from the North Carolina Division of Public Health.  They received four stars for their efforts in implementing policies and practices that support a breastfeeding-friendly environment for patients.  The designation is based on the World Health Organization’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.  These steps support initiation, exclusivity and continuation of breastfeeding.

 

The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are: 

1. Have a written breastfeeding 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 breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from their infant.
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 breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no artificial teats (also called bottle nipples) or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

 

Participating facilities in NC earn a star for every two steps implemented from the Ten Steps.  The North Carolina Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation is valid for a period of three years.  Facilities that implement additional steps may re-apply for a higher star level at any time.  This initiative promotes a continuum of quality improvement and is endorsed by the North Carolina Hospital Association and the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force.

 

Jackie Ross, RN, IBCLC, RLC, LCCE, Lactation Consultant/Childbirth Educator for Maria Parham says, “We are super excited to have successfully combined the efforts of the Women and Infants staff, the Lactation Team, members of Administration and our local healthcare providers to make this designation possible.”  She adds, “We’ll continue to really push education—education to the community about the benefits of breastfeeding and, especially, education to new moms so that they can make informed decisions about breastfeeding versus formula feeding and about the risks for choosing not to breastfeed.”

 

In January of this year, US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin released The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, which included the Health Care Action Step to “ensure that maternity care practices throughout the United States are fully supportive of breastfeeding.”  Maria Parham is committed to improving the care of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens.  They are proud to join the Division of Public Health in its efforts to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding in North Carolina.