By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky
UK HealthCare has once again been awarded the 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. UK HealthCare’s Albert B. Chandler hospital first received the designation in 2015.
This designation demonstrates UK HealthCare’s adherence 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 and the United Nations Children’s Fund for optimal infant feeding support in the first days of a newborn’s life.
“The Baby-Friendly designation highlights our commitment to evidence-based, compassionate care for women and newborns,” said Emily DeFranco, D.O., chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kentucky. “We’re proud to provide an environment where mothers feel supported in their feeding choices and where every baby begins life with the best chance to thrive.”
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. Many studies cited by the U.S. Surgeon General in the 2011 “Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding” show that breast milk not only fulfills an infant’s nutritional needs but also has immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect them from illness and infection.
UK HealthCare joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 470 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.
