Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Family Maternity Suites recently earned redesignation as a Baby-Friendly Hospital.
This initiative was founded in the early 1990s by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support and encourage breastfeeding. In the U.S., the designation is awarded by Baby-Friendly USA. To be designated as Baby-Friendly, hospitals must give new mothers the information, education and resources they need to start their breastfeeding journey during their hospital stay.
This is the second consecutive Baby-Friendly designation for JMH, which also offers Breastfeeding 101, a breastfeeding support group and an outpatient lactation clinic. The clinic provides free breastfeeding support to all families regardless of place of delivery.
“Breastfeeding gives babies a strong start in life,” said Linda Kennedy, lactation consultant at JMH. “Not only does it provide the ideal nutrition, it’s also been shown to boost immunity and reduce the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes in the long-term.”
Baby-Friendly hospitals like JMH encourage mothers to keep their babies in their hospital rooms during their stay. This practice, known as rooming in, promotes bonding, supports successful breastfeeding and enhances the overall family-centered care experience.
“While we recognize that breastfeeding isn’t possible for all mothers and babies, and that some mothers will choose not to breastfeed, we want to make sure families have all the information and support they need to make an informed decision,” Kennedy said.
Rachel Moore, nurse manager of Family Maternity Suites, appreciates the Baby-Friendly recognition that reflects JMH’s commitment to ensuring parents are given the resources, information and support needed to support a breastfeeding decision.
“I am so proud of this designation and the work we have accomplished to support new mothers,” she said.