Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. announced that Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) has received prestigious international recognition and been re-designated as a Baby-Friendly birth facility.
Baby-Friendly USA, Inc is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (“BFHI”), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.
CMMC has a “Breastfeeding Matters Program” which offers the services of Lactation Consultants—certified health professionals who specialize in educating and supporting breastfeeding mothers—to inpatients and outpatients. CMMC also provides:
Prenatal education about breastfeeding
Weekly Breastfeeding Support Group
Lactation Consultant support phone line: 207-795-2528
Newborn office visits at Central Maine Pediatrics
Pump rental and sales
As part of CMMC’s Baby-Friendly practices, the hospital features 24-hour rooming in, where the baby stays in the mother’s room during the full hospital stay. CMMC also promotes mother and infant bonding by encouraging skin-to-skin contact.
To see upcoming Childbirth Education events and courses log on to: CMMC Events & Classes.
CMMC joins an elite list of only six Baby-Friendly hospitals in Maine including Bridgton Hospital, a Central Maine Healthcare critical access hospital. Currently there are 403 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States and more than 20,000 designated institutions worldwide. The re-designation is given after a rigorous survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes.
About Baby Friendly USA, Inc.
Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. (BFUSA) is the accrediting body and the national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the United States. In this capacity, BFUSA is responsible for coordinating and conducting all of the activities necessary to confer the Baby-Friendly designation.
BFUSA is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 1997 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since 2011, the corporate headquarters has been located in Albany, NY. Learn more at: www.babyfriendlyusa.org or by calling 518-621-7982.
