LEBANON – Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) has once again achieved the international Baby-Friendly designation from Baby-Friendly USA after a rigorous review process. DHMC has held this designation for the past 10 years, with every care unit that a family interfaces with protecting, promoting and supporting evidence-based infant feeding practices, from the Birthing Pavilion, OBGYN clinic, Intensive Care Nursery, pediatric units and the emergency department. This is a full hospital-wide effort to provide optimal care for new families.

This honor demonstrates that DHMC is adhering to the highest standards of care for families and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life. Cheshire Medical Center, another member of Dartmouth Health, also holds this designation.

“The hospital experience strongly influences a birthing person’s ability to start and continue breastfeeding/chestfeeding,” said Lisa Lamadriz MPH, RN, IBCLC, clinical research nurse for the department of obstetrics & gynecology who led the re-designation process. “This designation is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination across our organization and we are extremely proud to be recognized for the diligent work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly re-designation process, including the team of International Board Certified Consultants (IBCLCs), nurses, providers and support staff, all with the goal of helping families get off to a good start. We are proud to offer an environment that supports best practices shown to increase breastfeeding/chestfeeding exclusivity and duration and are committed to provide birthing persons who choose to breastfeed/chestfeed the best chance for success; and education for those families who choose to provide formula with safe handling, storage and feeding practices.”