From University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health:
Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (UM UCMC) has been designated a Baby-Friendly® Hospital by Baby-Friendly USA. UM UCMC is one of five hospitals in Maryland to receive the designation and is the first and only hospital within the University of Maryland Medical System to be named a Baby-Friendly® Hospital.
Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., 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.
“We are honored that University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center has been awarded the Baby-Friendly® Hospital designation,” said Lyle E. Sheldon, president and CEO of University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health. “Our Department of Women’s and Children’s Services provides excellent care to mothers and babies, and having Baby-Friendly USA commend the work we do each and every day is gratifying. We thank them for the honor.”
The Baby-Friendly Hospital 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 international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.
The “Baby-Friendly” designation is given after a rigorous, on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the “Ten Steps” as demonstrated by quality processes.
There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently there are 372 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States.
More information may be found at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.
This is what is screwed up with health car in this country.
Baby friendly? Seriously there are hospitals that are not baby friendly?
Take the profit out of needing medical care and go to single payer already. We no longer lead the world in quality healthcare and it’s past time to change things.
I delivered in a “baby-friendly” hospital last month and they were hardcore against anything other than breastfeeding. Even when my daughter would not latch, they still insisted I try– going almost a day without feeding my baby just because they wouldn’t dare entertain the idea of giving me a pump or giving her formula. It was utterly ridiculous. I finally had to stand up and tell them that I decided we were moving on from breastfeeding, and they lost their minds.
udder-ly heh heh
(quietly walks away)
We should just drop the gimmicks and give people the health care they need.
Nah, cant do that. People would be out a job, there wouldn’t be anymore dysfunction, and you (the patient) won’t have to tell medical employed professional’s the word “NO” over, and over.