Memorial Hospital receives recertification as “baby friendly” from breastfeeding advocacy group
Baby Friendly USA has recertified Memorial Hospital as “baby friendly,” determining again after a rigorous review that the hospital adheres to the highest care standards for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
The standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund for optimal infant feeding support in the first days of a newborn’s life.
“Memorial Hospital has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” said Jen Tonkovich, RN, BSN, MHA, CPN, director of women and children’s services at Memorial. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated: “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”
Baby Friendly USA recertified Memorial Hospital after conducting multiple assessments of the hospital, having first granted it certification in 2015.
“Our team at Memorial is incredibly passionate about improving maternal and infant health outcomes for the communities we serve,” Tonkovich said. “Creating a supportive environment that provides women with the information they need to make an informed decision about breastfeeding, and then helping them develop the skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding, is a vital part of this mission.”
Baby Friendly USA also certified Elkhart General Hospital as “baby friendly” in 2016.
