The Backus Hospital Birthing Center is pleased to be recognized as a Baby-Friendly® Hospital through the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).
Earning the Baby-Friendly Hospital Designation promotes the mission of Backus Hospital; “to improve the health and healing of the people and communities we serve”. Breastfeeding supports optimal health for babies that extend throughout their entire lives.
What is the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative?
Launched worldwide in 1991, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a joint project of World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The goal of the initiative is to recognize hospitals and maternity centers that demonstrate their commitment to providing a positive environment for breastfeeding mothers by fulfilling the rigorous standards outlined in the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding”.
Our goal is to ensure a healthy relationship between a mother and her newborn baby. We
believe that every mother should be fully informed of the importance of breastfeeding and
has a right to current information, free from commercial interests, to help her decide how to
feed her baby. We respect that every family has individual feeding goals and that breastfeeding is not possible for some families. Supplementation is sometimes medically appropriate and some mothers will decide not to breastfeed. All mothers will be equally supported and treated
with dignity and respect independent of their feeding decisions.
What does this mean for our hospital?
When a mother decides to breastfeed her baby:
- The nurses within the birthing center have received special training in lactation support
and will assist a new mother and infant in achieving a deep, comfortable latch.
- Mothers will be given accurate and consistent advice about how to promote milk production
and secure a robust milk supply.
- In order to support and promote successful breastfeeding, pacifiers and bottles of formula
will be discouraged from use unless there is a medical indication.
- Upon discharge, mothers will receive information and resources that support her
decision to breastfeed so she may continue to receive help once she is home.
When a mother decides to formula feed her baby:
- The staff will support her decision by providing up-to-date information on caring for her baby and safe formula preparation, as well as formula for feeding while she is in the hospital.
To learn more: