The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Our story begins in 1991 when the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), a global program to encourage the broad-scale implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and the International Lawmaking of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. The BFHI assists hospitals in giving mothers the information, confidence, and skills necessary to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies and gives special recognition to hospitals that have done so.  In cases where patients have a medical indication or have made an informed decision to apply formula, the safe preparation and feeding of formula is provided to mothers.

The WHO and UNICEF administrate the BFHI program internationally and work with the national dominance in each country which confers the Infant-Friendly® designation in their nation. More than than xx,000 maternity facilities in 150 countries effectually the world take earned the Infant-Friendly designation.

In 2007, less than 3% of United States births occurred in approximately 60 Infant-Friendly designated facilities. In 2019, those numbers rose to more than 28% of births in more than than 600 Baby-Friendly designated facilities, and they continue to ascent. Baby-Friendly hospitals and birthing centers tin exist found in all 50 states, the Commune of Columbia, and the Republic of Puerto Rico.

The BFHI has enabled tremendous progress in lactation support. Since its inception over two decades ago, nosotros have seen maternity wards transform from places historically infused with enormous influence from formula companies and maternity care and infant feeding practices that undermined breastfeeding, to environments in which evidenced-based care is provided, education is free from commercial interests, and mothers are supported in reaching their infant feeding goals.

Since 1996, when the first hospital in the United states of america was designated Baby-Friendly, more than than half-dozen.5 million babies take been born in Baby-Friendly designated facilities in the US.

Babe-Friendly The states, Inc.

Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. (BFUSA) is the accrediting trunk and national authority for the BFHI in the U.s.. In this capacity, BFUSA is responsible for analogous and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly® designation and to ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the U.s.a.. We do this past:

  1. Refining and upholding the standards/criteria for successfully implementing the X Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in the US;
  2. Assessing and accrediting birthing facilities that meet those standards and follow the International Code of Marketing of Chest-milk Substitutes; and
  3. Generating widespread understanding of and enthusiasm for all-time practice infant feeding intendance.

BFUSA was incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in August 1997.

Our Philosophy

These are the basic tenets of BFUSA's philosophy and approach:

1. Human milk fed through straight breastfeeding is the optimal way for human infants to be nurtured and nourished.

At that place is no question that breastfeeding is the optimal feeding and caring method for the health of both, the baby and the mother. An affluence of scientific prove concludes that mothers and babies who breastfeed experience improved health outcomes and lower risks for certain diseases. Breastfeeding is the natural biological conclusion to pregnancy and an important mechanism in the natural evolution of the infant.

2.  T he precious first days in the nascency facility should exist protected as a time of bonding and support not influenced by commercial interests.

Hospitals and birthing centers wield enormous influence over the first days of life and play a critical role in determining breastfeeding success. Before the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative began to take hold beyond the US, commercial interests significantly influenced baby feeding practices in means that undermined breastfeeding. Baby-Friendly facilities are centers of support in which evidenced-based care is provided, education is free from commercial interests,all infant feeding options are possible, and individual preferences are respected.

three.  E very female parent should exist informed about the importance of breastfeeding and respected to make her ain decision.

We aim to ensure that every mother is fully informed of the importance of breastfeeding and to the aid she needs to accomplish her breastfeeding goal. We respect that breastfeeding is non possible for some families in certain situations, that supplementation is sometimes medically appropriate, and that some mothers will make up one's mind non to breastfeed. Every female parent has the correct to evidence-based data, free from commercial interests to aid her decide how to feed her baby and should be equally supported and treated with dignity and respect for her baby feeding conclusion.