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Becoming a Baby-Friendly Hospital
In recent years, the benefits of breastfeeding a newborn baby have become a frequent topic of discussion.  Breastfed babies have lower rates of diabetes, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome and other illnesses.  They are also less likely to suffer from malnutrition.  In light of this information, many hospitals have implemented “baby-friendly” policies.  These policies provide all the resources a new mom who wants to breastfeed needs.  Hospital staff members are educated on the basics of lactation and how to assist the new mother.  These policies also state that the newborn baby should be breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, the baby is to remain in the mother’s room 24 hours a day, no formula is given to a baby unless medically necessary, no pacifiers are given to the baby, and there is a staff member always available to assist the new mom with an issues related to breastfeeding.  However, in some baby-friendly hospitals mothers who choose not to breastfeed feel alienated or forced into breastfeeding.  This article discusses the issues of hospitals making the switch to baby-friendly policies.
To make for an easier transition, this article states that education is the most important tool when making the switch to baby-friendly policies.  They feel when the new mom is educated on the benefits of breastfeeding, they are more likely to do so and not feel pushed into it.  Some hospitals have focused more on community outreach programs which provide breastfeeding education long before a mother enters the hospital to give birth.  Hospitals who have implemented this policy have also found it helpful if nurses do not remove the baby from the room for routine examinations, so that breastfeeding babies are less likely to be given formula when away from their mothers.  Most mothers have been very appreciative of these new policies; however, there are a few who felt uncomfortable in a baby-friendly hospital with their decision to use formula.  While the hospitals’ goals is not to make anyone feel guilty, that still seems to be a problem with the implementation of these policies.  With that in mind, hospitals are trying to create a supportive atmosphere for all mothers no matter what their choice.  Overall, the programs have been successful at increasing the rates of breastfeeding.  One study done in 2010 found an increase in breastfeeding rates from 30% to 90% largely because of baby-friendly policies.

Schulte B. More U.S. Hospitals Adopting “Baby-Friendly” Policies.  Washington Post Web site.  http:// www.washingtonpost.com/local/more-us-hospitals-adopting-baby-friendly-policies/2014/09/10/ 49a86998-34c4-11e4-a723-fa3895a25d02_story.html. Published September 10, 2014.  Accessed September 13, 2014.

Neville K. Breastfeeding Bullies: A Case for Supporting, Not Shaming.  Food & Nutrition Web site. http: //www.foodandnutrition.org/September-October-2014/Besting-Breastfeeding-Bullies-Support-Not-Shame/. Published August 26, 2014.  Accessed September 13, 2014.

AF

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