Recently, there has been a bigger effort to encourage breastfeeding in newborns across the world. Baby-Friendly USA has awarded Kona Community Hospital status as a Baby-Friendly Hospital — one of only three in Hawaii. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) supports the protection and encouragement of breastfeeding, providing additional help from hospital staff for new mothers. Implemented and endorsed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the prestigious award ensures local patients get the education they need about breastfeeding, as well as the resources they require. Located in Kealakekua, Kona Community Hospital is proud to carry this new title.

The process to receive the designation involves an in-depth implementation of breastfeeding education and support, followed by an on-site survey. Kona Hospital has helped outline some of the procedures they’ve started and will continue to utilize in the future, ensuring they remain part of the initiative in future years:

• Quick Contact: Breastfeeding works well if the baby is given skin-to-skin contact with the mother as soon as possible. Baby-friendly hospitals will try to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth.
• Education: Specialists will instruct the mother about lactation, including maintaining it while they are separated from their baby. They will endorse breastfeeding and talk about the benefits with new mothers, encouraging them to try breastfeeding and avoiding rubber or artificial nipples.
• Making It Policy: In order to be a baby-friendly hospital, Kona Community Hospital carries out a policy that educates staff about breastfeeding standards and regularly makes it a topic of concern within their maternity care center.

Breastfeeding can improve the health outcome in newborns, and the BFHI is a means to expand on the efforts of places that have already seen success. If you’re a new mother or are expecting in Kealakekua, visit the professionals at Kona Community Hospital. They can provide more information about the benefits of breastfeeding. Visit them online or give them a call today at (808) 322-9311.