San Juan Regional Health

Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., a global program administered by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), announced today that San Juan Regional Medical Center has received its prestigious international recognition as a Designated Baby-Friendly® birth facility.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is an evidence based program designed to support mother/baby bonding and optimal infant feeding practices. Decades of research have established that breast milk is perfectly suited to nourish infants and protect them from illness. The basic tenants of Baby-Friendly USA’s philosophy and approach are:

1. Human milk fed through direct breastfeeding is the optimal way for human infants to be nurtured and nourished.
2. The precious first days in the birth facility should be protected as a time of bonding and support not influenced by commercial interests.
3. Every mother should be informed about the importance of breastfeeding and respected to make her own decision.

“San Juan Regional Medical Center is proud to be Baby-Friendly,” said Suzanne Smith, Chief Nursing Officer. “By providing early support and information to parents and creating an environment that enhances parent-child attachment, we hope to improve new mothers’ breastfeeding rates and help mothers and babies get off to a great start.”

As a Baby-Friendly® designated facility, San Juan Regional Medical Center offers an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. This includes implementing and upholding the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to establish a healthy breastfeeding relationship. Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and having babies room-in with their mothers are two important components. These best practices have many benefits for both mother and baby, including:

• Better quality sleep
• Less crying and distress
• Improved breastfeeding experience

There are many advantages of choosing to deliver a baby in a Baby-Friendly® designated facility. “When you choose San Juan Regional Medical Center, our Baby-Friendly staff will carefully assess your baby’s feeding so that any early problems can be taken care of quickly. Our staff is ready and willing to assist with breastfeeding so you feel more confident,” said Cindy Baez, Clinical Director of Nursing. 

The support continues after mothers leave San Juan Regional Medical Center, with comprehensive breastfeeding support services open to all new mothers in the community. Those services include individual appointments with experienced lactation consultants along with classes, which can be found on San Juan Regional Medical Center’s website or by calling 505.609.6484. San Juan Regional Medical Center also offers a blog exclusively for parents called Oh Baby. It focuses on important care topics to benefit moms, babies and growing families.

There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide, including 13 in New Mexico. They can be found on Baby Friendly USA’s website. San Juan Regional Medical Center’s Baby-Friendly designation is a testament to the months of dedicated teamwork and efforts of Nursing Leadership, providers, and the Childbirth Center staff and leadership. It is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice quality processes.