University of Utah Hospital is proud to announce that it has once again earned the prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation, following a comprehensive and rigorous review by Baby-Friendly USA. This marks the hospital’s fourth time receiving this distinguished certification, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to exceptional maternal and infant care. University Hospital remains the only facility in Utah to hold this important accreditation, setting the standard for newborn and family-centered care in the state.
This distinguished honor demonstrates that University Hospital is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers 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 (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 U.S. 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.”
University Hospital joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 560 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
“This recognition underscores our dedication to promoting breastfeeding, fostering bonding between parents and babies, and ensuring all families receive compassionate, evidence-based care from the moment their child is born,” said Elizabeth Kirts, MPH, IBCLC, manager of women and children’s patient services for U of U Health. “Achieving this designation repeatedly reflects our unwavering commitment to the long-term health and well-being of Utah's families."
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About University of Utah Health
University of Utah Health provides leading-edge and compassionate care for a referral area that encompasses Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and much of Nevada. A hub for health sciences research and education in the region, U of U Health has a $492 million research enterprise and trains the majority of Utah’s physicians, and more than 1,670 scientists and 1,460 health care providers at its Colleges of Health, Nursing, and Pharmacy and Schools of Dentistry and Medicine. With more than 20,000 employees, the system includes 12 community clinics and five hospitals. U of U Health is recognized nationally as a transformative health care system and provider of world-class care.
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 www.babyfriendlyusa.org.