Baby-Friendly: At the Hospital and Beyond

January 4, 2023 Women
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was created to promote better chest/breastfeeding practices and mom-baby bonding while in the hospital. As more and more hospitals attain the “Baby-Friendly” designation, your chances of delivering in a “Baby-Friendly” hospital are more likely.

How do baby-friendly hospitals help moms?

  • Baby-friendly hospitals help moms by:
  • ✓ Encouraging and assisting moms to start chest/breastfeeding within an hour of baby’s birth.
  • ✓ Supporting “rooming in” which means baby stays in the same room as mom while in the hospital.
  • ✓ Not giving food or formula to baby unless mom requests it.
  • ✓ Training staff to help mom and baby establish a chest/breastfeeding relationship.

GIVING BIRTH AT A BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL: MY STORY

  • I delivered my son in a baby-friendly hospital in New York. The nursing staff gave me a lot of help and support during my short two-day stay. Every nurse that came into my room asked how breastfeeding was going. They also watched me breastfeed and helped me fix some latch problems I was having.
  • What I remember most is how tired I was the first night. I was afraid to sleep for fear I would not hear or see my baby’s signs of hunger. The nurse could see how exhausted I was. She said if I wanted to rest she would take my baby to the nursery and wake me when it was time to feed. Not only was she supporting my decision to room in and breastfeed, but she also helped me see how important it was to rest.
  • When my son was 4 months old, I went back to work. I continued breastfeeding and pumped several times a day. My son is now 14 months old and is still breastfeeding as part of our daily bonding routine. I truly feel my breastfeeding success was due to the support given to me at the baby-friendly hospital.