Baby-Friendly USA implements the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the United States. BFHI is a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The UofL Center for Women & Infants is the only Downtown Louisville facility and the fourth facility in Kentucky to earn the designation. Currently there are 405 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birthing centers in the United States and more than 20,000 worldwide.

The designation is awarded to birthing centers that follow the , offering breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies. The Baby-Friendly designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed and is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps.

“The process to earn Baby-Friendly Designation truly involved a team effort,” said Libby Smith, RN, nursing director of the CWI. “The staff, providers and leaders throughout the CWI work together for the common goal. Providers support breastfeeding from the beginning of the patient’s prenatal care through delivery, and then while mom and baby are in the hospital. The pediatric providers support mom and baby throughout their care, also.

“The greatest congratulations are for the nurses and the lactation team who provide the support for the family. There is a lot of education that takes place in the CWI, and a lot of support when mom is tired and just wants to give up; everyone encourages her to keep going. The Baby-Friendly Designation has been awarded because our staff works hard to make mothers and babies their priority.”

The CWI is home to Labor & Delivery, High-risk Antepartum Units, Mother/Baby Unit and the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Units. In addition to the highest quality physician-provided obstetrical, newborn and neonatal care for mother and baby, the CWI has implemented innovative services including care provided by Certified Nurse Midwives, family centered Cesarean sections, tub labor and centering pregnancy.

During , organized by the World Alliance on Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and celebrated Aug. 1-7, Wallis shares insights from her research conducted in the United States, Romania, India, and West Africa.

Experts agree breastmilk is the optimal food for newborns, with health advantages for both the baby and mother. Researchers also have found that women are more likely to breastfeed if infants are put to the breast within one hour of birth. But, Wallis says although 90 percent of Romanian women start breastfeeding immediately, many stop within a few weeks because of challenges they face when returning to work or because they lack the support of partners and family.

In the United States, Wallis has worked closely with Healthy Start initiatives in three states, all with ties to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs that encourage low-income women to breastfeed. She says barriers to breastfeeding are significant for women in this population.

“Rates vary significantly by state, but in general, women in the United States who are better educated and have higher incomes are more likely to breastfeed,” Wallis said. “They also have more positive attitudes and higher levels of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding. Other important factors are prenatal education, access to lactation consultants and support groups, as well as hospital practices.”

Wallis says she would like to see more – that is, hospitals that do not accept free or low-cost products from infant formula companies and are staffed with certified lactation consultants. Kentucky only has three UNICEF-certified Baby Friendly hospitals. She says this does not fare well for the Commonwealth, which already falls behind the national percentage of breastfed babies with 66 percent of infants breastfed from birth compared to 80 percent nationally. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age, with continued breastfeeding supplemented by other foods up to two years or beyond.

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, will host a public event on Aug. 5 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Family Health Centers, Second Floor, 834 E. Broadway. The event will include children’s activities, door prizes, snacks and free nursing bra giveaways.