South County Hospital has been re-designated as a “Baby-Friendly” hospital for the optimal level of care, education and support provided to breastfeeding families. In 2000, South County Hospital became the first in Rhode Island to achieve this status.
“It is an honor to receive re-designation as a Baby-Friendly hospital. At South County Health, our expert team of providers, nurses, and support staff are committed to high-quality care, and nurturing a supportive environment, both for breastfeeding families and for those who cannot or decide not to breastfeed,” said Megin Dalton, MD, Medical Director, Center for Women’s Health,, South County Health.
Baby-Friendly hospitals undergo a rigorous review process and site visit. Facilities are evaluated for their adherence to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding families. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
In addition to education and breastfeeding support services, South County Health has lactation consultants, certified childbirth educators, and nurses who are specially trained to help all families accomplish their breastfeeding and newborn feeding goals. The team at The Women and Newborn Care Unit at South County Hospital also features Neonatal Nurse Practitioners.
Learn more about the Labor & Delivery Team at South County 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 babyfriendlyusa.org.
South County Health is a leader in medical quality, service and innovation, providing care to patients across Rhode Island in acute and outpatient settings including at Medical and Wellness Centers in Westerly, East Greenwich, and Warwick, as well as Primary Care and Specialty provider offices in Cranston, Narragansett, Newport, and Wakefield. South County Health is comprised of three healthcare entities: South County Hospital, South County Home Health and South County Medical Group.
South County Hospital has a 5-Star rating for Overall Quality from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, is a global leader in robotic-assisted orthopedic surgeries and is home to more robotic-assisted options than any other hospital in the state.
