New Study: In-Hospital Formula Feeding Linked to Earlier Weaning
An important new study in the journal Pediatrics has found that in-hospital formula feeding is linked to earlier weaning from breastfeeding, with infants exposed to formula in the hospital at 2.5 to 6 times higher riskRead more
BFUSA Initiates Search for New CEO
An Important Announcement from Baby-Friendly USA Dear Colleagues, Trish MacEnroe has informed the Baby-Friendly USA (BFUSA) Board of Directors that, after more than ten years as the Executive Director/CEO of BFUSA, she will be retiring atRead more
Now More Than Ever, Baby-Friendly Facilities Must Protect Parents from Commercial Interests
Dear Colleagues, On March 26, BFUSA announced that, in order to support facilities in assisting mothers to access adequate nutrition for their babies during the COVID-19 crisis, we would relax one standard regarding the provision ofRead more
Coronavirus Update #2
The entire team at Baby-Friendly USA sends our deepest gratitude to all healthcare providers, staff and first responders for the heroic work you are doing to provide incredible care to your patients. To say you areRead more
Coronavirus Update
This message contains important information regarding issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Our thoughts are with all hospital personnel, specifically those providing direct care to patients. We are also grateful for the tireless efforts of thoseRead more
Revised Guidance About the Infant-Driven Feeding Training Program
On September 4, 2019, BFUSA issued a statement pertaining to the conflict of interest that emerged as a result of Dr. Brown’s Medical acquiring the Infant Driven Feeding (IDF) Program. Our statement sparked an important discussion amongRead more
New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s Greetings from Baby-Friendly USA! 2020 will be a very important year for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the US. In December, BFUSA released Interim Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria (GEC), which applies to assessmentsRead more
There Are Now More than 600 Baby-Friendly Designated Facilities in the US!
Mississippi Leads the Way... The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) has reached another important milestone: over 600 birthing facilities are now Baby-Friendly designated in the US, representing more than 28% of the nation’s births. Since 1996, whenRead more
Baby-Friendly USA Releases Interim Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria
BFUSA is pleased to announce that we have released Interim Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria (GEC) for assessments taking place between February 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022. The Interim Guidelines infuse more flexibility into the currentRead more
What SHOULD Happen When Baby Does Not Get Enough Milk from Mom
It is perhaps the most important and complex question for hospital staff and medical professionals caring for newborn babies with mothers wishing to breastfeed: what are the proper procedures to ensure the safety of the babyRead more
New Study Shows Baby-Friendly Practices Associated with Decreased Rates of Early Infant Deaths
A new study published this week in the Journal of Pediatrics shows increased rates of implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) are associated with decreased rates of infant deaths in the first 6 days afterRead more
Fact vs. FIB: Follow-Up
Earlier this week, we published an article showing that higher Baby-Friendly penetration rates are clearly associated with higher breastfeeding initiation rates across the country and across time. This finding served to (a) debunk the conclusions ofRead more
Fact vs. FIB: The Impact of Baby-Friendly on Breastfeeding Initiation Rates
From 2007-2015, the percent of live births occurring in Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in the US increased from 1.8% to 11.5%. During the same period, the percent of babies who were “Ever Breastfed” in the US grewRead more
Breastfeeding Care Comes “Full Circle” for Baby-Friendly Pioneer
The Story of Boston Medical Center, Bobbi Philipp, and Her First Grandchild... Anyone who knows Bobbi Philipp knows she is a tireless change agent, a never-say-never advocate for patients, and one of the pioneers and foremostRead more
What SHOULD Happen with a Screaming Baby in the Middle of Night
It is one of the most challenging and misunderstood moments for hospital staff: what to do when a mother calls for help in the middle of the night with a screaming baby who is having troubleRead more
Statement About the Infant-Driven Feeding® Training Program
Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. (BFUSA) has received numerous inquiries from Baby-Friendly designated facilities with NICU’s about the Infant-Driven Feeding® training program particularly designed for NICU staff. Specifically, we have been asked to weigh in on potential conflictsRead more
Let’s Talk about Clinical Standards and Clinical Judgment
Welcome to World Breastfeeding Week! As I write this, there are 576 Baby-Friendly designated facilities in this country. This seemed unattainable when I joined Baby-Friendly USA (BFUSA) almost ten years ago. In a few short years,Read more
Study Correlates Baby-Friendly Care with Improved Breastfeeding Rates
In a study published in Breastfeeding Medicine, Jung et al. examine breastfeeding outcomes among WIC participants in Los Angeles County (LAC) and their relationships with Baby-Friendly practices. This study is important because, as is the caseRead more
Third Time’s a Charm for Mother Seeking “Baby-Friendly” Experience
Prompted by a question on a Facebook post about whether her hospital was Baby-Friendly, Janet McKay replied that her first two children “were born in a non-baby friendly hospital ?,” but the facility where her thirdRead more
The Ten Steps: Passed the Tipping Point and Moving Forward
(By Trish MacEnroe) Few social change initiatives have matched the scale, complexity and success of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Launched in 1991 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)Read more
Celebrating Evergreen Hospital, Baby-Friendly Trailblazers
The year was 1992. The WHO and UNICEF had launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) just the year before and there was not yet an accreditation authority established for the initiative in the United States. ButRead more
Update on the Revised BFHI Guidance (Continued)
Dear Colleagues, It’s been a year since we updated you on our plans for implementing the revised guidance for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) provided by the WHO and UNICEF. At that time, we said thatRead more
Statement from Trish MacEnroe: Celebrating Black History Month
As some people know, I took an extended break from work in December and January. This much-needed pause gave me the chance to re-energize and reflect on the pride I feel for all that we’ve accomplishedRead more
Baby-Friendly Practices Help Reduce Racial Gaps in US South
One of the most confounding issues facing breastfeeding advocates in recent years has been the significant differences in breastfeeding rates between African American and white babies. In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Read more
Fact vs. FIB: The Truth About Attrition
As we said in a series of posts last year, Baby-Friendly USA (BFUSA) believes we owe it to the public and to the hospitals that have worked so hard to earn the Baby-Friendly designation to callRead more
