COVINGTON – St. Tammany Health System has once again earned the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation following a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.
This five-year accreditation demonstrates that the health system’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital and its New Family Center adhere to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the first days of a newborn’s life.
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. In 2011, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, stating: “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”
With this most recent Baby-Friendly recognition, St. Tammany Parish Hospital joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
“The hospital experience strongly influences a mother’s ability to start and continue breastfeeding,” St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “We are committed to implementing evidence-based care through the Baby-Friendly designation to ensure that mothers delivering in our facility who intend to breastfeed, as well as those who cannot or decide not to breastfeed, are fully supported.”
St. Tammany Health System previously earned the Baby-Friendly designation in 2019. This latest re-accreditation further cements St. Tammany Parish Hospital – the site of more than 60,000 births since its founding in 1954 – as the premiere destination for maternity care on the Northshore.
###
About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is nationally recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. The health system is home to 281-bed St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, three diagnostic centers and 12 medical clinics throughout western St. Tammany Parish. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is AA- rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.
About Baby-Friendly USA
As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.