Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe Receives Baby-Friendly® Designation

Only Hospital in Michigan Recognized for Providing Optimal Care and Education for Breastfeeding Mothers

Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe is the only hospital in Michigan designated as a Baby-Friendly® birth center by Baby-Friendly USA. The national authority for Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, Baby-Friendly, USA recognizes hospitals that provide a high level of care and education for breast-feeding mothers and their babies.

The designation was awarded after an on-site survey involving nurses and physicians. Baby-Friendly, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund, is a five-year designation maintained by continuing to practice the “Ten Steps to Successful Breast-feeding for Hospitals.”

Studies have shown that exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of an infant’s life reduces the risk of infections, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. 

“Our nurses and physicians have worked persistently to achieve this prestigious, international designation,” says Jeanne Lewandowski, M.D., chief, Pediatrics, Beaumont, Grosse Pointe. “The Baby Friendly initiative demonstrates Beaumont's commitment to practices that lead to improved health outcomes for babies and mothers in our community.”

There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently, there are 138 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States. While the Shery L. and David B. Cotton, M.D. Family Birth Center at Beaumont, Grosse Pointe is the only hospital in the state to receive the designation, Beaumont Health System is working to achieve Baby-Friendly status at its hospitals in Troy and Royal Oak.

Beaumont, Grosse Pointe supports breast-feeding through The Ten Steps to Successful Breast-feeding for Hospitals, as outlined by UNICEF and WHO. The steps include following a policy that is routinely communicated, educating expecting mothers about breast-feeding, helping initiate breast-feeding within one hour of birth and teaching women how to maintain lactation. The Ten Steps encourage breastfeeding on demand and “rooming in” – to allow mothers and babies to remain together, as well as referring mothers to breast-feeding support upon discharge. Unless medically indicated, no food, drink (other than breast milk) or artificial nipples are to be given to breast-feeding infants.

About Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe
Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe is a 250-bed hospital located in the heart of Grosse Pointe. Opened in 1945 by the Sisters of Bon Secours, it was purchased by Beaumont Health System in October 2007, making Beaumont a three-hospital regional health care provider. Beaumont, Grosse Pointe provides medical, surgical, emergency, obstetric, pediatric and critical care services. Visit Beaumont’s website at www.beaumont.edu.