Pregnancy & Birth
OSF HealthCare has made it a priority to adopt the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative philosophy of evidence-based care and implement care models that reflect those aligned with the Baby-Friendly way.
The Birthing Centers at OSF HealthCare consider this philosophy the gold standard in caring for mothers and babies.
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: