Around the world, nearly 20,000 hospitals are labeled “Baby friend“. These establishments, which host maternity hospitals or mother-child centers, meet specific criteria defined by the World Health Organization and Unicef. They particularly promote breastfeeding,” skin to skin “, bond between the newborn and the mother … The objective: to respect the rhythm of the baby and his parents, by bringing “individualized support centered on the needs of the newborn, in a spirit of parent-caregiver partnership and protecting families from commercial pressures”.
This international label, nicknamed the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (IHAB) program, is still rarely awarded in France. Thirty-eight hospitals, which provide around 7% of births in France, had so far obtained certification. A list that grew on Wednesday, June 12, since the French award committee has just awarded the label to two new departments: the service Maternity and Neonatology at the Maubeuge Hospital Center (59), as well as the service Guingamp Hospital Center Maternity (22).
Forty certified French services
The committee, made up of representatives of fifteen learned societies and associations, also revalidated the labeling of six services for a period of four years:
- Maternity of the Cognac Hospital Center (16);
- Maternity unit at the Clinique Rhéna, in Strasbourg (67);
- Maternity of the Arcachon Hospital Center (33);
- Maternity of the Center Hospitalier de la Ciotat (13);
- Maternity and Neonatology at the Clinique Belledonne, in Grenoble (38);
- Maternity and Neonatology at Lille University Hospital (59).
The complete list of certified maternities is listed on the website of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative association (IHAB France). The next award committee meeting should take place next December.
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