King’s Daughters Medical Center Receives Prestigious International Award

Albany, NY – Baby-Friendly USA, announces that King’s Daughters Medical Center has received prestigious international recognition as a Designated Baby-Friendly birth facility.

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. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

Lou Ann Wall, Rn, IBCLC said, “It was so exciting to receive the news that we were designated ‘Baby Friendly.’ I want to congratulate all of my fellow nurses and our physicians for being so cooperative during this time of learning a new and better way to care for our moms and babies. What I love most about ‘Baby Friendly’ is helping moms hold their baby skin-to-skin on their chest immediately after delivery and assisting with that first time the baby latches on to breastfeed. It’s all about keeping mom and baby together during this special time.

King’s Daughters Medical Center LDRP Director, Angie Williamson, RNC, BSN stated, “There’s nothing more wonderful than the birth of your child. We at King’s Daughters Medical Center are very pleased to be recognized as one of ten facilities in the state of Mississippi and one of 557 facilities in the nation. I personally think there’s no better place to experience these precious moments than in the first fully-dedicated, single-room labor and delivery suites in Mississippi. Our commitment to our mothers is very evident – the ‘Baby Friendly’ initiative, Mommy University and breastfeeding classes are all focused on both mom and baby to lead them in those formative years to live a full and healthy life. This is just another way we have partnered with our community to ensure that we are educating and standing alongside all of the mothers that deliver their babies at KDMC.”

There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently there are 557 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States. The “Baby-Friendly” re-designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes.

Further information about the U.S. Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative may be obtained by contacting

Baby-Friendly USA, Inc.,
125 Wolf Road, Suite 402
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: 518.621.7982 Fax: 518.621.7983

or

Email: info@babyfriendlyusa.org. Web: www.babyfriendlyusa.org.

Press Contact: Charmaine Tompkins 518.621.7982