Becoming a Baby Friendly Hospital

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) promotes optimal infant feeding.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as a core component of BFHI.
• Hospitals often face challenges in meeting BFHI criteria, even those with existing breastfeeding support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the process and challenges encountered by Boulder Community Foothills Hospital in achieving Baby-Friendly designation.
• To share successful strategies for implementing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
• To provide insights for other healthcare facilities pursuing BFHI.

Main Methods:

• The study describes the journey of Boulder Community Foothills Hospital towards Baby-Friendly designation.
• It highlights the implementation of the WHO's Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
• The narrative includes specific challenges faced and the strategies employed to overcome them.

Main Results:

• Boulder Community Foothills Hospital successfully achieved Baby-Friendly designation in October 2015.
• The hospital maintained a high rate of breastfeeding initiation (98%) postpartum.
• The process involved overcoming significant challenges, demonstrating that designation is not a formality.

Conclusions:

• Achieving Baby-Friendly designation is a rigorous but valuable process for hospitals.
• Successful implementation requires dedicated nursing leadership and strategic planning.
• Sharing experiences can guide other hospitals in their pursuit of improved infant feeding practices.