ChCh Women's Breastfeeding Support Recognised

Christchurch Women’s Hospital has passed a “rigorous assessment” and been reaccredited as a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) hospital for the third time – a first for a New Zealand tertiary hospital.

Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation is a worldwide initiative to recognise health care facilities that have accomplished high standards in implementing the World Health Organisation’s ‘Steps to Successful Breastfeeding’.

Baby Friendly hospitals actively protect, promote and support exclusive breastfeeding from birth.

“We’re delighted to retain our accreditation,” says Samantha Burke, Director of Midwifery at Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

“It is an endorsement by the New Zealand Breastfeeding Authority for our high standard of care and support for women and babies, and also a great source of pride for our staff whose energy and dedication have made the retention of the qualification for the third time possible.”

Christchurch Women’s Hospital was first accredited as a BFHI hospital in 2002. The status is reassessed approximately every three years. Other Canterbury District Health Board hospitals that have achieved three accreditations are Lincoln Maternity Hospital, Rangiora Hospital and the Burwood Birthing Unit. Ashburton Hospital received accreditation in 2007 and Akaroa Hospital in 2009.

There are only two other maternity facilities who have achieved accreditation three times and they are both in the North Island.

Julie Stufkens, Executive Officer for New Zealand Breastfeeding Authority says “When we first assessed Christchurch Women’s Hospital in 2001 they had 59% of discharged mothers exclusively breastfeeding.

The staff at Christchurch Women’s Hospital have really stepped up and committed themselves to promoting breastfeeding and it currently has a 79% rate of discharged mothers exclusively breastfeeding.”

The accreditation certificate will be presented at Christchurch Women’s Hospital at 10am on Thursday 4 March.

More information:

The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth.

5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants.

6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.

7. Practice rooming in – that is, allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.

8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.