Brightshores Health System is the first hospital in this region to receive official Baby-Friendly Designation.
Baby-Friendly Initiative
The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) was introduced by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund in 1991 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. In order to achieve this designation, the hospital must comply with and meet the standards of the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.”
When your baby is born, your baby will be immediately placed skin-to-skin with you until your baby has their first feeding. This promotes baby-led feedings. Skin-to-skin regulates a baby’s heart rate, breathing, temperature and promotes bonding and breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is a normal physiologic process, mother and baby are designed to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is learned and it can take some time for mother and baby to feel comfortable and confident during feedings. Our nursing staff and Lactation Consultant are available to support you and your baby during this important experience. Our hospital has a Board Certified Lactation Consultant on staff Monday-Friday to assist mothers with breastfeeding in hospital. Additionally, our nurses are all trained in breastfeeding support and are with you 24hr/day to help ensure you and your baby are off to a good start.
Our Pledge
We protect, promote and support breastfeeding as the baseline for mothers and babies. We support informed choice for all families through education.
We have an up-to-date infant feeding policy based on best practices.
We have breastfeeding and infant feeding education to support mothers and families.
We inform mothers about breastfeeding and give everyone the information needed to make decisions for their babies.
We help all mothers and babies with skin-to-skin contact following birth. This is when breastfeeding usually begins.
We help mothers learn to breastfeed and help all families to feel confident feeding their babies.
We encourage breastfeeding mothers to feed their babies breastmilk only.
We support mothers and babies to stay together at all times.
We encourage mothers to feed babies when they show signs of wanting to feed.
We suggest that baby soothers or bottle nipples not be used when learning to breastfeed.
We provide a list of community resources to help families after going home.
Resources:
Is My Baby Getting Enough to Drink?
for information that is of special interest to families who are feeding their babies with formula and for families who are considering using formula. Do you know there are many ways to feed your baby other then using a bottle. Many families choose to use a cup, spoon or fingerfeed.
If you are planning to supplement with formula or stop breastfeeding your baby, please speak to your health care provider or Lactation Consultant.
After You Go Home
Many mothers need support after they go home. A follow up appointment may be booked for you with the outpatient breastfeeding clinic at the hospital (Monday- Friday 9-4pm). If you need an appointment, please call (519) 372-3928
If you need breastfeeding support after clinic hours, please call:
- Woman and Childcare Unit at the Owen Sound hospital 519-376-2121 ext 2300
- Telehealth Breastfeeding Support 1-866-797-0000
- If you are a patient of the Midwives, please call your Primary Midwife
offers peer to peer breastfeeding support through the .
Marion Cooper – Lactation Consultant in Walkerton Area (by appointment only) 519-507-2021 ext. 41
Amy Dow – RD Lactation Consultant in Hanover Area (by appointment only) 519-506-4348
Pregnancy Crisis Center (by appointment Fridays 11am-2pm) 519-371-2004 or 1-888-371-2004
Kailey Marshall- RPN Lactation Consultant in Markdale Area (by appointment) 519-986-2222 ext 6399