Coronavirus Update
This message contains important information regarding issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Our thoughts are with all hospital personnel, specifically those providing direct care to patients. We are also…
New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s Greetings from Baby-Friendly USA!
2020 will be a very important year for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the US. In December, BFUSA released Interim Guidelines and Evaluation…
There Are Now More than 600 Baby-Friendly Designated Facilities in the US!
Mississippi Leads the Way…
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) has reached another important milestone: over 600 birthing facilities are now Baby-Friendly designated in the US, representing more than 28% of…
Baby-Friendly USA Releases Interim Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria
BFUSA is pleased to announce that we have released Interim Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria (GEC) for assessments taking place between February 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022.
The Interim Guidelines…
What SHOULD Happen When Baby Does Not Get Enough Milk from Mom
It is perhaps the most important and complex question for hospital staff and medical professionals caring for newborn babies with mothers wishing to breastfeed: what are the proper procedures…
New Study Shows Baby-Friendly Practices Associated with Decreased Rates of Early Infant Deaths
A new study published this week in the Journal of Pediatrics shows increased rates of implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) are associated with decreased rates of infant…
Fact vs. FIB: Follow-Up
Earlier this week, we published an article showing that higher Baby-Friendly penetration rates are clearly associated with higher breastfeeding initiation rates across the country and across time. This finding…
Fact vs. FIB: The Impact of Baby-Friendly on Breastfeeding Initiation Rates
From 2007-2015, the percent of live births occurring in Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in the US increased from 1.8% to 11.5%. During the same period, the percent of babies who…
Breastfeeding Care Comes “Full Circle” for Baby-Friendly Pioneer
The Story of Boston Medical Center, Bobbi Philipp, and Her First Grandchild…
Anyone who knows Bobbi Philipp knows she is a tireless change agent, a never-say-never advocate for patients, and…
What SHOULD Happen with a Screaming Baby in the Middle of Night
A Case Study from LA County…
It is one of the most challenging and misunderstood moments for hospital staff: what to do when a mother calls for help in the…
Statement About the Infant-Driven Feeding® Training Program
Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. (BFUSA) has received numerous inquiries from Baby-Friendly designated facilities with NICU’s about the Infant-Driven Feeding® training program particularly designed for NICU staff. Specifically, we have been…
Let’s Talk about Clinical Standards and Clinical Judgment
Welcome to World Breastfeeding Week!
As I write this, there are 576 Baby-Friendly designated facilities in this country. This seemed unattainable when I joined Baby-Friendly USA (BFUSA) almost ten years…
Study Correlates Baby-Friendly Care with Improved Breastfeeding Rates
In a study published in Breastfeeding Medicine, Jung et al. examine breastfeeding outcomes among WIC participants in Los Angeles County (LAC) and their relationships with Baby-Friendly practices.
This study is…
Third Time’s a Charm for Mother Seeking “Baby-Friendly” Experience
Prompted by a question on a Facebook post about whether her hospital was Baby-Friendly, Janet McKay replied that her first two children “were born in a non-baby friendly hospital…
The Ten Steps: Passed the Tipping Point and Moving Forward
(By Trish MacEnroe)
Few social change initiatives have matched the scale, complexity and success of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Launched in 1991 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and…