The Prenatal Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital Achieves New York State Breastfeeding Friendly Practice Designation

The Prenatal Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital has been officially designated as one of the first medical practices in Rockland County to achieve the New York State Breastfeeding-Friendly Practice Designation by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDoH). In order to be designated as a Breastfeeding-Friendly Practice, The Prenatal Center met the comprehensive guidelines outlined in the NYSDoH’s Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities initiative and achieved all of 10 evidence-based steps in supporting breastfeeding mothers, including:

• Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement a breastfeeding policy that promotes, supports and protects breastfeeding and breastfeeding mothers while also providing comprehensive breastfeeding assistance and advice for mothers.

• Inform all pregnant and postpartum women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

• Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infant. • Encourage breastfeeding mothers to feed newborns only breast milk.

• Discontinue routine distribution of infant breast milk substitutes and eliminate formula marketing materials and gift packs from the practice.

• Identify local breastfeeding support networks and foster collaborative working relationships and referral systems.

“We know that exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life is strongly associated with better short- and long-term health outcomes for mother and child. As a public health organization, The Prenatal Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital strives to be a leadership example in our community,” said Theresa Fay Conte MSN, RNC, NE-BC, Director of Nursing Maternal Child Health at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “This designation further reinforces our commitment to be part of the continuing health and well-being of the women and children we serve in providing accessible services to help breastfeeding mothers feel welcome and supported.”