For the first time, more than 500 hospitals and birthing centers – including 17 in Florida – have achieved designation as Baby-Friendly Hospitals recognizing their support of breastfeeding.
According to Baby-Friendly USA, this important milestone indicates widespread recognition for supportive breastfeeding practices in maternity facilities across the country. Designation requires adherence to the 10 Steps for Successful Breastfeeding and the International Code for Marketing Breastfeeding Substitutes. Hospital and birthing centers undergo a rigorous designation process.
As recently as 2010, there were fewer than 100 Baby-Friendly designated facilities implementing these practices in the US. Reaching the 500 mark means that nearly 25% of babies born in the US are born in Baby-Friendly designated facilities; and approximately 1 in 6 hospitals/birthing centers in the US are Baby-Friendly designated.
Florida’s Healthy Start program provides breastfeeding education and support for pregnant and postpartum women, and works collaboratively with WIC and other community partners to encourage breastfeeding.
Congratulations to Florida’s Baby-Friendly Hospitals:
Cape Coral Hospital, Cape Coral, FL
Florida Hospital Celebration Health, Celebration, FL
Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center, Sebring, FL
Gulf Coast Medical Center, Fort Myers, FL
Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL
Jackson North Medical Center, N. Miami Beach, FL
Jackson South Medical Center, Miami, FL
Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor, FL
Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater, FL
Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola, FL
Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL
St. Vincent’s Medical Center Southside, Jacksonville, FL
Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL
UF Health Shands Hospital, Gainesville, FL
West Kendall Baptist Hospital, Miami, FL