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Breastfeeding

HSHS St. Joseph's is a designated Baby Friendly facility

Breastfeeding provides your baby with the perfect nutrition and promotes the best opportunity for lifelong healthy growth and development. HSHS St. Joseph's is here to offer support and education to moms and babies throughout the breastfeeding journey. We offer a Certified Lactation Consultants to assist you and your baby.

HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital has received the prestigious international recognition as a Designated Baby-Friendly birth facility from Baby-Friendly USA.

Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. is the U.S. authority 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). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

Breastfeeding mom with breast pump supplies

Breastfeeding support

Our maternity nurses are skilled at helping new moms and babies learn how to breastfeed, and our certified lactation consultants provide extra support. We smooth the transition to home with individualized instruction and a customized education program, including educational tools you can view in the privacy of your room. Contact our Certified Lactation Consultant.

Download our Breastfeeding Success brochure

Breastfeeding success

Being named a Baby-Friendly hospital means we use the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to provide mothers with the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

The Baby-Friendly designation is awarded after a rigorous on-site survey is completed and can only be maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes.

Baby-Friendly care focuses on keeping the mom and baby together. This practice helps to stabilize the baby more quickly, enhances bonding between mom and baby and supports successful breastfeeding.

These practices include:

Minimal separation of mother and baby
Sacred Hour after delivery for undisturbed bonding
Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth
Rooming in 24 hours a day
No pacifiers given to breastfeeding babies
All staff trained in breastfeeding support
Ongoing support available after discharge
Education of families on bonding with baby

For more information on BFHI and the Baby-Friendly designation, please go to www.babyfriendlyusa.org. Baby-Friendly is a trademark of the United States Fund for UNICEF and is awarded by Baby-Friendly USA in East Sandwich, MA.