Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis has achieved re-designation as a Baby-Friendly hospital following a rigorous review by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for the international certification in the United States.
The hospital’s Center for Women and Families is one of only two hospitals in Oregon to hold the distinction. Nationwide, 437 facilities currently meet the criteria and more than 20,000 hospitals and birth centers hold the designation worldwide.
The Baby-Friendly standard is built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization and UNICEF to support optimal infant feeding in a newborn’s first days of life.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process,” Brandon Schmidgall, hospital administrator, said through a press release. “Our Center for Women and Families is committed to providing the support, education and resources moms need to successfully initiate breastfeeding and continue breastfeeding when they leave our care.”
Health authorities have long documented the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding described breast milk as uniquely suited to an infant’s nutritional needs, citing its immunological and anti-inflammatory properties in protecting against illness and disease.
Baby-Friendly facilities are designed to support breastfeeding while respecting each woman’s right to make feeding decisions that work best for her and her family.