MidState Medical Center Receives Prestigious International Recognition as Baby-Friendly® Birth Facility

June 03, 2013

MidState Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has been named a Baby-Friendly® birth facility for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative ("BFHI"), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birthing facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

"Breastfeeding poses a number of benefits for both mother and baby. MidState is so proud to have earned this recognition and is committed to helping new moms breastfeed through education, personalized instruction and support from other mothers," said MidState's lactation care coordinator, Dawn Flohr, RN, BSN, IBCLC.

Currently, there are 159 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States and more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. 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.