St. Joseph’s Health Hospital Receives Prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— St. Joseph’s Health Hospital is proud to announce that it has once again achieved the highly 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.

The first time St. Joseph’s received this designation in 2009, it was the third hospital in New York State to be recognized. Today, there are 44 designated hospitals in the state and 546 in the U.S.

This distinguished honor demonstrates that St. Joseph’s is adhering 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 (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.

“St. Joseph’s Health has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” said Heather Shimer-Bero, CNS, RNC-OB, C-EFM, IBCLC, LNC, Director of Women & Infants Service Line. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our hospital is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”

St. Joseph’s Health Hospital joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.

St. Joseph’s Health lactation consultants provide prenatal education, support families with an infant in the NICU, assist mothers with breastfeeding after birth, and continue to provide mothers with support after they are discharged to home with phone calls and in person appointments.

“This coveted Baby Friendly designation does not only apply to our Lactation Department,” said Shimer-Bero. “It recognizes the breastfeeding support a mother receives through the entire St. Joseph’s Health system, from prenatal to postpartum and pediatric care. All our nurses and providers have been educated on how to teach and support breastfeeding mothers.”