Baby-Friendly USA

Did you know? The more of the 10 Steps a parent experiences, the more likely they are to meet their breastfeeding goals! This holds true for: 👣Early breastfeeding initiation 👣Exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge 👣And exclusive breastfeeding duration 🌟 The 10 Steps work—And every step counts! Baby-Friendly designated hospitals follow all 10 Steps, from prenatal education to coordinated discharge, ensuring an integrated plan for helping parents meet their infant feeding goals. 🔗 Learn more:  https://lnkd.in/dddcd_C #ProudToBeBabyFriendly #HospitalsMakingADifference #ExcellenceInMaternityCare #BFHI

Time to celebrate Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California, for being re-designated Baby-Friendly!! 🌟🌟🌟 This achievement is proof of your ongoing commitment to babies, families, and exceptional maternal and newborn care. Kudos to all!! #ProudToBeBabyFriendly

In celebration of Black History Month, BFUSA proudly honors Brianna Clark DO, MPH, CNPM, IBCLC, esteemed member of our board of directors! Dr. Clark’s lifelong passion for health equity has been making a difference for families since her career began. Dr. Clark: 🏥Works tirelessly in support of improvements to rural healthcare ⚖️Champions policies that support diversity in healthcare 📜Contributes to policy development and education to promote sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion and anti-racism efforts in healthcare.  🤱🏽And is a powerful advocate for the inclusion of breastfeeding as an integral part of full-spectrum primary healthcare. Before attending medical school, Dr. Clark served as a public health professional and AmeriCorps Community Healthcorps member. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Baylor University and her master’s degree from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, formally known as the School of Rural Public Health. In addition, she attended The Bush School of Government and Public Service where she earned a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. An Osteopathic Physician and Certified Lactation Counselor, Dr. Clark completed her medical training at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine–Carolinas Campus. 🎉Thank you, Dr. Clark, for your outstanding contributions to the BFUSA Board of Directors and your work on behalf of parents, babies, and health equity for every family! #ProudToBeBabyFriendly #HospitalsMakingADifference #ExcellenceInMaternityCare #BFHI #BlackHistoryMonth

💖Love your partner? Support their breastfeeding journey! 💖Here are 10 ways to help: 🥪  Bring food and drinks they can eat with one hand. 🔪 Cut up their food! 👂 Listen to the lactation care provider’s advice and help your partner remember the info. 🚿 Hold the baby so they can take a shower. 🚪 Guard against too many visitors. 🛋️ Make breastfeeding easier when entertaining visitors. Find out how they’d like to handle this and advocate for their wishes. 🧸 Take care of older children and meet their needs for fun and attention. 🧹 Tackle errands and chores. 🆘 Help them get help if they need it. 🌍 La Leche League International (llli.org) 🔎 Find an IBCLC (ilca.org) 💬 Use encouraging words like “You’re doing a wonderful job.” 💕 💡 Never underestimate how much you matter! A recent study found parents are 13X more likely to keep breastfeeding if their partner supports them. #ProudToBeBabyFriendly #HospitalsMakingADifference #ExcellenceInMaternityCare #BFHI #BlackHistoryMonth

Please join us in celebrating University Hospitals MacDonald Women’s Hospital on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, for being re-designated Baby-Friendly for the second time! 🌟 This achievement demonstrates your unwavering dedication to teamwork and excellence in infant feeding care. Congrats to all! 👏 #ProudToBeBabyFriendly

Three reasons nursing staff at Baby-Friendly facilities love their jobs:  🤱🏽Enhanced training, so they can support moms and babies with confidence  📜Clear, evidence-based policies, so everyone is on the same page  🏆A culture of leading-edge excellence, so they feel proud of the difference they’re making💙 As one staff member puts it: “I love it here! I have watched the transition, from before and after our Baby-Friendly designation, and it has been wonderful!” Becoming Baby-Friendly means creating a workplace where your staff can truly say, “I love it here!” 💖 🌟Start your journey today. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d5gYB4uh #ProudToBeBabyFriendly #HospitalsMakingADifference #ExcellenceInMaternityCare #BFHI

Thank you to the good folks at Barton Health in South Lake Tahoe, California, for letting us tell the story of their journey to becoming Baby-Friendly in November 2024. Read about it here: https://lnkd.in/exAwD53C “I immediately hung up the phone and ran to tell my staff, and then I ran to tell our chief nursing officer. Everyone was incredibly excited. Yeah, it was a big day,” recalls Adam Gray, Manager of the Family Birthing Center. “It was very gratifying because Baby-Friendly is not an easy designation to get. There are a lot of parts, and they hold you to a very high standard, which I appreciate.” #ProudToBeBabyFriendly

🤱🏽In honor of Black History Month, we celebrate Dr. Ifeyinwa Asiodu—an unstoppable force for birth and breastfeeding equity! ⭐️Dr. Asiodu is shaping the future with her groundbreaking research on human milk feeding and the experiences of Black families as Principal Investigator at the Motivating Interdisciplinary Lactation Knowledge (MILK) Research Lab. ⭐️As an educator at UCSF, Dr. Asiodu is empowering the next generation of health professionals with the knowledge needed to create a more just and equitable system. 🌍Beyond the lab and classroom, Dr. Asiodu is deeply embedded in efforts to eliminate the barriers that Black parents face. From influencing policy to leading national initiatives, her dedication is felt at every level. Her research—whether it’s examining the role of social media in Black parents’ breastfeeding journeys or addressing the barriers Black families face in accessing research opportunities—is sparking real transformation. Thank you, Dr. Asiodu, for your brilliant insight and tireless work in service of Black parents, babies, and families! 🙏🏽 #ProudToBeBabyFriendly #HospitalsMakingADifference #ExcellenceInMaternityCare #BFHI #BlackHistoryMonth

Maternity unit managers: Do your staff feel frustrated when they can't provide the lactation support new mothers need? Many nurses feel unprepared due to limited preservice training on infant feeding, which leads to stressful shifts and a lack of confidence when it comes to supporting new moms. ✅ Ready for a solution? At Baby-Friendly facilities, nursing staff are equipped with the skills to offer confident, effective lactation support at the bedside. Here's how one RN describes the difference: "I feel like everyone is on board with Baby-Friendly practices. I love that we ALL have the skills to help, not just the IBCLC!" Baby-Friendly designation is a journey that brings rich rewards for both families and staff. Ready to start your journey today? → https://lnkd.in/d5gYB4uh #ProudToBeBabyFriendly #HospitalsMakingADifference #ExcellenceInMaternityCare #BFHI

Well done, University of Maryland Medical Center!! 🌟🌟🌟 Your re-designation as Baby-Friendly reflects sustained excellence and a steadfast commitment to the highest standards in infant feeding care. Bravo!! #ProudToBeBabyFriendly