MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Berkeley Medical Center received an international recognition recently.
Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. named the hospital as a Designated Baby-Friendly birth facility.
The award gives recognition to birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.
Lactation consultant at Berkeley Medical Julie Oswald said the mothers that give birth at the hospital receive more education to make an informed feeding choice for their baby as well as assistance and support from the staff.
“We changed our policies and practices at Berkeley Medical Center to ensure that mothers who give birth at our hospital will receive more education to make an informed feeding choice for their baby as well as assistance and support for breastfeeding during their stay and after hospital discharge.”
“We are so very proud of the commitment Berkeley Medical Center has in promoting, educating, and supporting breastfeeding as well as providing excellent care for our growing families. This would not have been possible without the support of the entire hospital staff,” added Oswald.
Berkeley Medical Center will keep this designation for five years joining over 550 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers across the country.