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Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

2012-08-02T16:24:37Z

This week, World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebrates its 20th anniversary. Commemorated in more than 170 countries, WBW promotes the significant benefits of breastfeeding and recognizes the important work of breastfeeding advocates and educators across the world. This year's theme is "Understanding the Past - Planning the Future: Celebrating 10 years of WHO/UNICEF's Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding."

World Breastfeeding Week 2012 Objectives

To take stock of lessons learned and achievements from the past 20 years on infant and young child feeding (IYCF)
To assess the status of implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (Global Strategy) globally.
To celebrate successes and achievements nationally, regionally, and globally and showcase national work at the global level.
To call for action to bridge the remaining gaps in policy and programs on breastfeeding and IYCF.
To draw public attention to the state of policy and programs on breastfeeding and IYCF.

What are you doing to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week?

MA: Second US State to Ban Infant Formula Bags

2012-07-23T20:26:34Z

Earlier this month, Massachusetts became the second US state to ban infant formula gift bags. Dr. Lauren Smith, Medical Director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health told Boston.com that, “We applaud the effort of all of the hospitals to make this explicit statement of their support of breastfeeding here in the Commonwealth.”

According to the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition,

“In 2005, nearly all maternity facilities in the state were giving out discharge bags from formula companies. The marketing technique is particularly effective in lowering breastfeeding rates in part because of the implied endorsement of the hospital and health professionals. The bags often come with a requirement that hospitals get their formula for free, which contributes greatly to unnecessary use of formula by breastfeeding mothers. Research has consistently shown that such use is one of the strongest predictors of early breastfeeding failure— with a resultant increase in formula sales.”

Last fall, UMass Memorial Medical Center decided to stop distributing formula bags due to institutional pressure to avoid corporate marketing on hospital materials. Dr. Ellen Delpapa, Medical Director, Labor and Delivery told Boston.com that, “We now give women a free canvas bag with our hospital logo, but it doesn’t have anything in it. So far, we’ve had no complaints; no one has missed the formula.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months to provide babies with protection against respiratory illnesses, ear infections, gastrointestinal diseases, and allergies. Breastfed babies also have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome and a reduced likelihood for obesity.

Massachusetts currently has four Baby-Friendly hospitals including Boston Medical Center, The Cambridge Birth Center, Tobey Hospital in Wareham, and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. Awarded by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, Baby-Friendly hospitals actively promote the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding by:

Having a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff
Training all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy
Informing all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding
Helping mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth
Showing mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants
Giving newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated
Practicing “rooming in” that allows mothers and infants to remain together 24-hours a day
Encouraging breastfeeding on demand
Giving no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants
Fostering the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and referring mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic

What do you think of the Massachusetts ban on infant formula bags? Which state will be next?

Affordable Care Act: More Care for Breastfeeding Women

2012-07-10T20:20:26Z

The recently upheld Affordable Care Act (ACA) marks a monumental shift in heath coverage in the United States. In addition to helping the uninsured and young adults, it requires more coverage for women’s preventative care services. According to Lois Uttley, co-founder of Raising Women’s Voices:

“In an historic advance, all new health insurance plans will be required to cover key women’s preventive services without charging us co-pays. Newly-covered services will include contraception, breastfeeding supports (including rental of breast pumps), annual well-woman exams, and screening for gestational diabetes, domestic violence, and sexual transmitted diseases.”

How will the ACA help you successfully promote breastfeeding?

First Michigan Hospital Deemed Baby-Friendly

2012-05-18T18:40:19Z

Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe has become the first hospital in Michigan designated Baby-Friendly for their care and education of breastfeeding mothers. According to Jeanne Lewandowski, M.D., chief, Pediatrics, Beaumont, Grosse Pointe,

“Our nurses and physicians have worked persistently to achieve this prestigious, international designation. The Baby Friendly initiative demonstrates Beaumont's commitment to practices that lead to improved health outcomes for babies and mothers in our community.”

Beaumont, Grosse Pointe supports breastfeeding through The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding for Hospitals as outlined by UNICEF and WHO. The Ten Steps include following a routinely communicated policy, educating expecting mothers about breastfeeding, helping initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth, and teaching women how to maintain lactation once they leave they hospital.

Congrats, Beaumont Hospital!

A Baby-Friendly Rap Video

2012-05-17T18:24:43Z

The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition and the Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon have collaborated to make a Baby-Friendly rap video. Entitled, "A Tale of Two Births: The Baby-Friendly Rap," it shows the benefits of giving birth at a Baby-Friendly hospital. Check it out:

Newly Baby-Friendly: Highland Hospital

2012-02-22T16:13:12Z

Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA has recently been designated a Baby-Friendly hospital for its work in promotion breastfeeding. As part of the Alameda County Medical Center, Highland Hospital is the third Bay Area hospital to receive the prestigious recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

In order to achieve Baby-Friendly status, hospitals and birthing centers need to implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as outlined by WHO and UNICEF. The steps include prenatal education, initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth, and showing new mothers how to breastfeed successfully both within the hospital and once they leave.

According to the Oakland Tribune,

“At Highland, women who decide to breast-feed their babies receive support from consultants, midwives, nurses and other providers. The New Beginnings Birthing Center at Highland offers in-hospital education and support as well as a "warm line" for telephone questions, drop-in support groups and appointments as needed to address difficulties. The hospital plans to expand efforts in the community.”

Please join us in congratulating Highland Hospital for their impressive achievement. Is your hospital Baby-Friendly yet?

UNICEF Award: Ninewells Hospital Maternity Care

2012-02-21T21:40:02Z

Ninewells Hospital in the UK has been awarded the prominent UNICEF Baby Friendly Award for the standard of care given to women throughout and after pregnancy. According to NHS Tayside head of midwifery Kay Forsyth,

''We decided to join services with UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative to boost breastfeeding rates and to get better care for all mothers at Ninewells . . . . Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy, as well as allergies and diabetes in childhood. We also know that breastfeeding reduces the mother's risk of some cancers and it is easier, cheaper and simply less hassle than bottle feeding.''

Jones & Bartlett Learning would like to extend our congratulations to Ninewells for their impressive achievement. Cheers!

Baby-Friendly: Regional Medical Center in Anniston, AL

2012-01-30T16:37:20Z

Please join us in congratulating Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Anniston, AL for their recent Baby-Friendly designation. RMC is the first Baby-Friendly hospital in Alabama. According to The Anniston Star, “RMC received the award only after completing 10 steps laid out by Baby-Friendly USA and after the organization had performed a rigorous, two-day onsite survey at the hospital.”

Dr. Lewis Doggett, pediatrician at RMC said that,

“These are not just steps that they say they think will help. These steps are all scientifically based. These are proven [and] the data backs it up that they improve breastfeeding rates.”

According to the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, breastfeeding provides valuable nutrients for babies and helps them fight disease. Janice Smiley, director of the perinatal program at the Alabama Department of Public Health, agreed that,

“Babies who are breastfed have less diseases.”

To help improve its breastfeeding rates, RMC eliminated giving formula packs to new mothers.

Well done, RMC!

Source: 'Baby friendly' an enviable designation recently awarded to Regional Medical Center Read more: Anniston Star - Baby friendly an enviable designation recently awarded to Regional Medical Center (http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/17179571/article--Baby-friendly--an-enviable-designation-recently-awarded-to-Regional-Medical-Center?instance=home_news)

Kaiser Permanente: Supporting Breastfeeding with Partnership for a Healthier America

2011-12-13T21:59:21Z

Kaiser Permanente has signed a commitment with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to support breastfeeding as a benchmark of hospital quality and a key factor in preventing childhood obesity. According to Edward Ellison, MD, executive medical director-elect, Kaiser Permanente Southern California region,

“At Kaiser Permanente, we are committed to giving every baby the healthiest start possible. We believe in making the healthy choice the easy choice for mothers and families, so we are striving to support breastfeeding in our hospitals. We also promote and support breastfeeding as a key component of our comprehensive strategy to prevent childhood obesity.”

Kaiser Permanente has pledged that:

By Jan. 1, 2013, all of Kaiser Permanente’s 29 hospitals that offer maternal and child health services will be designated as Baby-Friendly, and/or participate in the Joint Commission’s Perinatal Core Measures program, which requires participating hospitals to report their rates of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge.
Kaiser Permanente will establish a system-wide performance improvement program focusing on the development and implementation of evidence-based hospital breastfeeding practices.
Kaiser Permanente will develop and make publicly available a hospital breastfeeding practices guide that documents lessons learned and operational strategies that other systems can use to improve maternity care.
To ensure accountability, Kaiser Permanente will include rates of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge as a core quality measure on its Quality Dashboard, which will be reviewed on a quarterly basis along with other hospital quality measures.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Institute of Medicine have all recommended breastfeeding as an important component in preventing childhood obesity as well. According to Lawrence A. Soler, CEO of PHA,

“We know that the risk of obesity is much lower for children who are breastfed, and...enabling more moms who want to breastfeed is critical to bringing down obesity rates. Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to make breastfeeding a priority for each child born in one of their hospitals has potential to make a very big impact, and we’re pleased they are such a strong partner in fighting childhood obesity.”

Is your hospital Baby-Friendly yet?

Source: Kaiser Permanente Commits to Support Breastfeeding as Key Strategy to Prevent Childhood Obesity (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kaiser-permanente-commits-to-support-breastfeeding-as-key-strategy-to-prevent-childhood-obesity-134682943.html)

SMHC: First Baby-Friendly Hospital on Island of Montreal

2011-12-05T22:04:40Z

St. Mary’s Hospital Center (SMHC) has become the first hospital on the island of Montreal to be designated Baby-Friendly. At the announcement, Marie-France Brizard, Manager of Maternal/Child Care Program thanked her,

"fellow hospital staff for your support and collaboration. You played an essential role in the certification process. This success belongs to you and your contribution and dedication will be a role model for other institutions who wish to become Baby Friendly Hospital. It is our collective efforts that have earned us this globally recognized accreditation that speaks to our commitment to give new borns the best possible start to life.”

Bon travail, SMHC!

Source: SMHC is the first hospital on the island of Montreal to obtain the “Baby Friendly Hospital” Accreditation (endly-hospital%E2%80%9D-accreditation/)