The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is doing all it can to encourage new mothers to breastfeed so that their babies can reap the benefits of it.
“Babies are programmed to breastfeed. Mom’s body is the most natural and most nurturing environment for the baby. Why break that cycle and separate the two?” said Khamattie Jones, the breastfeeding coordinator at Woodhull Hospital, which is part of HHC. “The earlier a baby begins nursing, the faster the milk will be produced and that is the only feeding a baby needs for the first sixth months.”
In order to encourage more women to breastfeed, HHC “began an aggressive program to encourage initiation of breastfeeding in the baby’s first hour as part of a campaign to increase exclusive breastfeeding and improve infant health,” according to a recent press release.
As part of their efforts, HHC removed free baby formula from gift bags they give out to the new moms. In addition, they no longer permit promotion materials for formula in the labor and delivery units.
However, hospitals that are a part of HHC do still have formula should a woman request it or if it is needed because a medical reason prevents the woman from being able to breastfeed.
“There is such an overwhelming beauty in the art of breastfeeding that, to me, is indescribable. It’s a privilege to be involved in such a personal, valuable, and important time in the family’s life,” said Linda Lubin, the breastfeeding coordinator at Bellevue Hospital Center. “Breastfeeding is a gift not only to infants, mothers, and families, but to all those involved in promoting, supporting, and protecting it. It’s a gift to be cherished.”
Of the 23,800 babies that were born at HHC hospitals in 2008, it was estimated that 80 percent were breastfed by their mothers.
This represents a large increase from 2006, when only 27 percent of the mothers decided to breastfeed their babies.
