NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly Hospital designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the U.S.
This distinguished honor demonstrates that Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock is adhering to the highest standards of care for mothers and their babies.
“As a leader in the care of women and newborns, we are proud to have achieved this important milestone,” said Cody Walker, president of Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock. “Our staff are dedicated to bringing the best care possible to our youngest patients and their families. It is an honor to provide them with the resources they need to have the healthiest start to life.”
These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”
More than 20,000 hospitals and birth centers worldwide have received the designation. Ten hospitals in Arkansas have this honor, and five of them are Baptist Health’s facilities in North Little Rock, Little Rock , Conway, Stuttgart and Arkadelphia.
“We have long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” Walker said. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at Baptist Health is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”
These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
About Baptist Health
For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered All Our Best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 250 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.
About Baby-Friendly USA
As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at babyfriendlyusa.org.