Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) has declared it's commitment to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
Col. David Dunning, Commander of Tripler Army Medical Center, signed a Commander's Declaration Aug. 5, 2014 in support of the effort, led by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the establishment of centers of breastfeeding support.
"This institution would like to foster an environment that supports the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as outlined by Baby-Friendly USA," Dunning stated in the memorandum for record.
Within the hospital setting, the initiative requires medical facilities to meet guidelines and criteria that includes training all healthcare staff in skills needed to implement the initiative, parent education on breastfeeding benefits, helping moms initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth or showing how to maintain lactation if separation from infants is required, giving infants breast milk unless medical indicated, allowing mom and baby to remain together, encouraging on demand breastfeeding, educating parents on pacifier or artificial nipple impact on breastfeeding, fostering the establishment of breastfeeding support groups, as well as compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes.
Brenda Willey, TAMC Lactation Consultant and advocate for the program was present for the signing and says the declaration is an exciting step forward. "There are currently only three military medical facilities in all of the military branches combined, that have the official 'Baby Friendly' designation. Since TAMC is THE Medical facility for the Pacific Basin, we want to stay at the forefront of changes in practices that support breastfeeding."
Tripler also eliminated formula gift bags, which studies show undermines a mother's confidence in breastfeeding.
"We want to get breastfeeding mothers and newborns off to the best start possible," said Willey. "It is a well-documented fact that hospital practices have a huge impact on a mother's ability to do sustained exclusive breastfeeding, and success is predicted by what kind of direction and support mother receives in the first two weeks, and especially in the first 72 hours after birth," she said.
The initiative isn't meant to alienate parents who chose to formula feed.
Tripler will also be providing instruction on proper formula storage and preparation to parents who chose formula.
"We support whatever feeding choices that parents make, but because of the health benefits to both mother and baby, the bonding breastfeeding promotes, and the fact that sustaining breastfeeding is especially challenging for our active duty mothers to achieve, we chose to do as much as we can to support and help our mothers to successfully and exclusively breastfeed," stated Willey.
TAMC Registered Nurse and new mom, 1st Lt. Danielle Savoye, says she faced some of the fears most moms face and appreciated the support from Tripler's staff. "Fears of breastfeeding improperly and leaving my son without enough nutrition plagued me. Before I discharged from the hospital, I had a discussion with one of Tripler's lactation consultants. She was able to ease my fears, correct a small error in my son's latch and gave me a point of contact for questions and concerns which popped up later as I returned to work."
Savoye says Tripler's lactation consultants continued to provider her support and advice as she made the transition to pumping at work and helped her through milk supply challenges.
"The Tripler lactation staff was easy to get a hold of to remedy that situation quickly, and had lots of advice for keeping up milk supply as well. Squeezing in the time to pump remained difficult, but I'm very glad for the other military mothers and fathers here who understand and actively encourage taking the time for it," Savoye said.
Willey, who was recently recognized for her commitment to moms and babies and for promoting and implementing several new lactation initiatives at Tripler, says she wants all new moms to know that lactation support doesn't have to stop when mom and baby leave the hospital.
"You, our active duty and dependent breastfeeding mothers, are our military's most valuable resource and support. We, who have the honor of caring for you as you bring new life into this world, applaud and support you in your endeavor to provide your amazing, life-giving milk to our next generation of Americans. We are here for you. You make us Army Strong."
For more information on Tripler's lactation consultation services, contact 433-3732 or 433-5020.
You can also find facts on breastfeeding throughout the month of August on Tripler's Facebook page in celebration of National Breastfeeding Month.
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