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Baby Friendly Health Initiative Accreditation

Pindara Private Hospital is currently in the process of achieving their Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) accreditation, an international initiative that aims to give every baby the very best start in life by creating a healthcare environment where breastfeeding is the norm and evidence-based practices known to promote the health and wellbeing of all babies and their mothers are followed. It’s a long and indepth process to gain this accreditation, but Pindara’s maternity unit is well on its way to achieving this within the next few months.

“It’s all about providing mothers with consistent care and advice from all staff members,” says Denise. “We have already noticed a change as mothers are commenting there is a bit more consistency with the advice they are receiving. We try to keep the advice factual and research based rather than what may or may not have been our individual experiences.”

Part of the BFHI accreditation is the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding, which is supported by Pindara Private Hospital. There are currently four lactation consultants on staff at the maternity unit who are very accessible for new mothers learning the craft of breastfeeding.

“We create an environment where breastfeeding is the norm and it is just a natural, normal thing that happens and there are people here to support it,” says Denise, a lactation consultant herself. “It’s all about providing the right information pre-natally. However if a woman has all the information and makes the decision not to breastfeed then we totally support her. We give all women who want to breastfeed the best care and ensure all mothers are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding their babies.”