Moms and Babies Love Elkhart General
Elkhart General Hospital has received the prestigious international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility.
Baby-Friendly USA is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” this award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.
“We have proven to be a hospital that supports and provides evidence-based maternity care for infant feeding and mother baby bonding,” says Linda Lyon, RN, Elkhart General Hospital lactation consultant. “Moms who choose Elkhart General for their maternity care can be confident that they are receiving the ‘gold standard’ regarding feeding practices for their infant. We are proud to be the 12th hospital in Indiana to receive this Baby-Friendly designation.”
There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide and 370 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the U.S., including Memorial Hospital of South Bend. The designation is given after completion of a rigorous on-site survey and maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps.
“Achievement of this Baby-Friendly designation demonstrates the dedication, passion and nursing excellence from our nurses who serve our women and children in the Elkhart County area,” says Karra Heggen, MSN, RN, Elkhart General’s vice president of nursing. “This designation journey has improved how we deliver patient centered care while improving the health outcomes of the mothers and babies we serve.”
