Baby-friendly hospital initiative: Lessons learned from hospitals in los angeles county

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of breastfeeding for both babies and their mothers. Understanding that hospitals and birthing facilities play a key role in supporting mothers before, during, and after delivery, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) established the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative that encourages hospitals to follow “The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding”, practices that have been shown to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration.

The rate of exclusive breastfeeding reported by Los Angele County hospitals of 39.3% is markedly lower compared to the statewide rate of 56.6%. To address this issue, First 5 LA began supporting hospitals that were seeking Baby-Friendly designation in 2009. To date First 5 LA has provided support to 16 hospitals throughout Los Angeles County. The evaluation seeks to understand the challenges, achievements, and milestones that hospitals have experienced as they seek Baby-Friendly Hospital designation as well as hospital staff and patients' reactions to new baby-friendly practices. Evaluation methods include analysis of hospital administrative data, interviews with hospital staff, and focus groups with new mothers who delivered at a participating hospital. Preliminary findings indicate that hospitals seeking Baby-Friendly designation had to make significant organizational changes throughout the hospital among all levels of staff. Challenges, achievements, and best practices that hospitals experienced in implementing “The Ten Steps of Successful Breastfeeding Practices” will be described from the perspective of hospital administrators, nurses, and patients.