LOUISVILLE, Ky. – UofL Health – UofL Hospital – Center for Women & Infants is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States. UofL Hospital was first designated as Baby-Friendly in 2017 and was re-designated earlier this year.
This distinguished honor demonstrates that UofL Hospital is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”
UofL Hospital joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 565 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
“This designation is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination across our organization, all with a goal of helping families get off to a good start,” said Ken Marshall, COO of UofL Hospital. “This designation is a reflection of our mission to transform the health of the communities we serve through compassionate, innovative, patient-centered—and I’ll add Baby-Friendly—care.”
“The hospital experience strongly influences a mother’s ability to start and continue breastfeeding,” said Reetta Stikes, director of the Center for Women & Infants at UofL Hospital. “We are committed to implementing evidence-based care through the Baby-Friendly designation to ensure that mothers delivering in our facility who intend to breastfeed, as well as those who cannot or decide not to breastfeed, are fully supported.”
