USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital recognized for breastfeeding program
The IBCLC Care Award is a global certificate that showcases hospitals, birthing facilities and community-based health agencies that have a dedicated lactation and breastfeeding support program.
By Casandra Andrews
candrews@health.southalabama.edu
Because of its demonstrated ability to help protect, promote and support breastfeeding, USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital has been recognized for the third time in recent years by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) for excellence in lactation care.
Children’s & Women’s received the IBCLC Care Award in recognition of staffing professionals who hold the prestigious International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification and for providing a lactation program for breastfeeding families, among other achievements.
The hospital’s lactation consultants are comprised of registered nurses who work in the Mother-Baby and neonatal intensive care units. Some members of the staff are known as delivery care nurses.
“We are incredibly proud of our staff and their dedication to ensuring moms have the resources they need to breastfeed as soon as possible after a baby is born,” said Vicki Curtis, director of women’s services at the hospital.
The staff at Children’s & Women’s is dedicated to increasing the bond between a mother and her baby through research-backed practices, including breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. These lactation practices have a number of health benefits for mothers and infants such as lower risks of cancers, diabetes and other diseases.
