Maternity Accreditations

Through the collaboration of our physicians, nurses and our entire healthcare team, we are recognized as a facility that offers mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies. We have also answered the Surgeon General’s call to action by bringing ourselves into alignment with the work of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity, Healthy People 2020 goals. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was developed by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund in the early 1990’s to increase breastfeeding rate and, in turn, reduce childhood illness and death.

The decision to pursue the Baby-Friendly designation was made possible thanks to the San Joaquin County Breastfeeding Health Initiative.

Our medical center staff worked for eight years to thoroughly implement Baby-Friendly policies. Baby-Friendly designation is granted after a rigorous on-site survey is completed.

To achieve and maintain the award, a hospital must:

• Have a written breastfeeding policy routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
• Train all healthcare staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.
• Inform all pregnant women of the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
• Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
• Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if separated from their infants.
• Give infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
• Practice “rooming in” — allowing mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
• Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
• Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
• Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the medical center or clinic.

The 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding is a global initiative developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to promote and support breastfeeding practices in healthcare settings. These steps provide a comprehensive framework for our hospital to create an environment that encourages breastfeeding from the moment a baby is born.

By adhering to these guidelines, our team plays a pivotal role in reducing infant mortality rates, enhancing maternal well-being, and promoting long-term health benefits for both mothers and children.

We support mothers to breastfeed through:

• Hospital policies that help make sure all mothers and babies receive the best care.
• Staff competency training, because well-trained health workers provide the best support for breastfeeding.
• Providing antenatal care that ensures women are prepared to breastfeed.
• Encouraging skin-to-skin contact right after birth and helping mothers to put their baby to the breast right away.
• Supporting mothers with breastfeeding, as many women need help at first.
• Being considerate about supplementing with formula, while respecting a mother’s wishes.
• Rooming-in so mothers can be near their babies to notice and respond to feeding cues.
• Encouraging responsive feeding by helping mothers know when their baby is hungry and not limiting breastfeeding times.
• Counseling mothers about the use and risks of feeding bottles and pacifiers.
• Educating mothers about community resources after discharge and working with partners to improve breastfeeding support services.

Cribs for Kids’ National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program recognizes hospitals and hospital systems for their commitment to infant safe sleep to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB), SIDS and unsafe sleep injuries.

As a Safe Sleep hospital, we have hospital-wide policies to promote safe sleep. This includes educating families and providing wearable blankets for each newborn. We also identify at-risk families in need of infant safe sleep spaces and provide them with a safe sleep space before they are discharged home.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. It typically happens when babies are asleep. While the exact cause is unknown, clinicians and researchers believe it is associated with breathing issues due to a baby’s sleep position and/or environmental factors.

You can help your baby sleep safely and take other measures to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS. A safe sleep environment is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

From caring for yourself during pregnancy to skin-to-skin contact following birth, there are many simple steps you can take as you prepare for and greet your baby. Additionally, setting up a safe sleep space at home is essential. Learn more about how you can ensure infant safe sleep.