Our Baby-Friendly Philosophy

The Birthing Centers at OSF HealthCare consider this philosophy the gold standard in caring for mothers and babies.

What is the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative?

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), was launched to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.

The initiative encourages the successful implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

The BFHI assists hospitals in giving all mothers the information, confidence and skills necessary to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies or feeding formula safely.

The initiative compels hospitals to examine, challenge and modify existing policies and procedures.

Becoming a Baby-Friendly facility is a comprehensive, detailed and thorough journey toward excellence in providing evidence-based, maternity care with the goal of achieving optimal infant feeding outcomes and mother/baby bonding.

The following hospitals have achieved the Baby-Friendly designation:

• OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center (Urbana, Illinois)
• OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center (Evergreen Park, Illinois)
• OSF St. Joseph Medical Center (Bloomington, Illinois)