Jamaica Hospital Medical Center -- Department of Public Affairs -- 8900 Van Wyck Expressway Jamaica, New York 11418
For Immediate Release
Name: Xavia Malcolm
Telephone: 718-206-6746
Email: xmalcolm@jhmc.org
Jamaica Hospital Officially Baby-Friendly USA® Facility
Jul 23,2017
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has been officially awarded Baby-Friendly USA® designation.
<br>Baby- Friendly® designation is a globally known and prestigious recognition awarded to hospitals and birthing facilities that uphold strict breastfeeding and maternal care guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
<br>The process of becoming a Baby-Friendly® institution is rigorous and the designation is only awarded to organizations that demonstrate a full commitment to providing the best possible support for breastfeeding mothers and insuring a high quality of mother/baby care.
<br>As a Baby- Friendly® facility, Jamaica Hospital, which delivered over 2,200 babies in 2016, joins an elite group of healthcare providers in New York State that has earned this recognition. The hospital now ranks as part of the 21% of healthcare facilities in the nation to boast Baby-Friendly USA® designation. “This achievement is a reflection of our dedication to providing our community with quality care,” states Dr. Steven Inglis, Jamaica Hospital Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
<br>To achieve this great accomplishment, Jamaica Hospital collaborated with other health agencies including the New York City Breastfeeding Hospital Collaborative(NYC BHC) to implement initiatives aimed at improving exclusive breastfeeding rates and promoting mother-infant bonding practices. “By encouraging breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, we are addressing health problems that may develop during infancy but can also affect a person’s health later in life” shares Paula Utilla, Lactation Consultant.
<br>Evidence shows that babies who are fed breastmilk exclusively are less likely to develop respiratory diseases such as asthma or gastrointestinal diseases. Breastfeeding is also beneficial for a mother’s health as women who breastfeed are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, breast or ovarian cancer.
<br>Jamaica Hospital provides the community with several medical, social and educational services all created to offer women support during and after pregnancy; some of these services include breastfeeding education and support programs, childbirth classes, and a highly successful Centering® program. Last year the hospital opened a Mother’s Nursing Room, designed to offer members of the community, hospital visitors and employees who are nursing a clean and comfortable place to feed their babies or express milk.
<br>“We have made great strides and will continue to work diligently to create services and programs that will improve the overall health and wellness of our community, “states Marge Lilienthal, Director of Nursing.
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