Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center Receives Prestigious International Recognition From Baby-Friendly USA

Largest Birthing Hospital in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties

Re-Designated as Baby-Friendly Birth Facility

Baby-Friendly USA recently announced that Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC), the largest birthing Hospital in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, has been re-designated with the prestigious international recognition as a Baby-Friendly birth facility.

With nearly 6,000 births at PVHMC in 2018, the Hospital’s Women’s Center continues is committed to improving the safety and quality of care for women and their babies during labor and delivery – including gaining the confidence and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding.

“Our Women’s Services team is committed to improving the safety and quality of care for women and their babies during labor, delivery and as they begin family life,” said Medical Director of Women’s Services, Dr. M. Hellen Rodriguez, M.D. “This designation showcases our team’s accomplishments in supporting mothers in one of the most important aspects in a baby’s life, breastfeeding.

Benefits of breastfeeding include reducing “colds” or respiratory infections, protecting against asthma, reducing the chance of diarrhea and bowel infections, decreasing bladder infections, reducing risk of diabetes, protecting against “crib death” Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Baby-Friendly USA, Inc is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (“BFHI”), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently, there are only 574 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States. The “Baby-Friendly” re-designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes.