The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding. BFHI recognizes and awards birthing facilities who successfully implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ) with the support of CDC developed the Best Fed Beginnings Program (BFB) as the needed support to increase breastfeeding rates nationwide and to help hospitals achieve Baby-Friendly designation.
Emory Healthcare serves humanity by improving health through integration of education, discovery and health care. Breastfeeding is an important health priority for mothers, babies, families, communities, and nations. Breastfeeding and maternity care improvement is a national priority requiring changes to our current practices.
Baby-Friendly designation is a change in the healthcare culture similar to Magnet, but is specific to Women's Health Services. A Baby-Friendly facility is a comprehensive, detailed and thorough journey toward excellence in providing evidence-based, maternity care with the goal of achieving optimal infant feeding outcomes and mother/baby bonding.
Becoming a Baby-Friendly Hospital compelled us to examine, challenge and modify longstanding policies and procedures. It required training and skill building among all levels of staff.
Our journey involved a multidisciplinary team including staff nurses, lactation consultants, physicians, outpatient clinics, patient family advisor, administration, purchasing officer, community resources, peer counsellors and our patients. This team collaborated for over two and a half years incorporating the latest evidence in maternal and newborn care into our practice.
With relentless effort and determination of this entire team, we were able to become the second Baby Friendly Hospital in Georgia and we are among the less than 10 percent of hospitals in the country to receive this designation.
Project TEAM Leader: Sino George, MSN, APRN, RNC-OB, WHNP-BC, CNS for Perinatal Services
Ruth Simmons, Lactation Consultant
Iva Holmquistova, Lactation Consultant
Donna Greer, Lactation Consultant
Ranita Hare, Lactation Consultant
Schera Victor, Lactation Consultant
Deletha Hernton, Lactation Consultant
Liesel Sloan, Lactation Consultant
Ann Critz, MD, Neonatologist
Elizabeth Collins, MD, OBGYN
Cassandra Neville, RN - SCN
Katherine Philips, RN - Unit 34S
Candice Nettles, RN - Unit 42
Marilyn Alexander, RN - L&D
Debra Stevens, RN - Unit 34S
Zariya Rubin, Patient Family Advisor
Porcia Jones, Purchasing Officer
Dr. Shawnte James
Cassandra Neville, RN, SCN
Valerie Chumley, RN, IBCLC
Diane Hoefener, RN, Unit 42