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Commonly Asked Questions and Answers About the Baby-Friendly™ Process |
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| How does the Baby-Friendly
process work? There are three major steps to the process. First, a birthing facility commits to the Baby-Friendly process by submitting an application (including a letter of intent, an annual fee and a completed self-appraisal tool) to Baby-Friendly USA. After receipt of a Certificate of Intent, the facility works toward the full implementation of all ten steps, accessing technical assistance from Baby-Friendly USA staffers as needed. Finally, the facility requests an on-site assessment by the Baby-Friendly survey team and a review by the External Review Board. Upon successful completion of this review process, the "Baby-Friendly" designation is conferred. If the facility does not pass on first assessment, it may apply for reassessment when identified problems have been rectified. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What if my hospital or birthing center is not "Baby-Friendly" enough to get a Certificate of Intent? There is no such thing. The Certificate of Intent only signifies the commitment to work at becoming a Baby-Friendly facility. A facility does not have to answer "yes" to all questions on the Self-Appraisal Tool to obtain a certificate of intent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are there any charges for the process? Yes. Each hospital or birth center is assessed an annual fee (currently ranging from $550 - 900), based upon number of births in the previous calendar year. In addition there are optional support materials and videos available for a charge. The annual fees are used to support the program, so that Baby-Friendly USA can provide technical support, produce a newsletter and publicize the program through newsletters, conference exhibits, etc. Once a hospital has achieved Baby-Friendly status, a smaller annual fee is assessed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are the costs for the assessment? The fees for assessment in 2006 are $3,000 plus travel costs, lodging and per diem for two assessors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where does the funding for the Baby-Friendly program come from? The funds to run the Baby-Friendly USA office and programs come from fees paid by birth facilities and from the contributions of interested individuals and groups. Baby-Friendly USA does not accept contributions of any type from companies in violation of the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My hospital is part of a three hospital system. Can the whole system make one application for a Certificate of Intent? No. Each hospital within a system has its own unique assets and challenges regarding breastfeeding promotion, protection and support. Each hospital must be assessed on its own merit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are the US Ten Steps the same as the global? Yes, except Step 4, where breastfeeding should be initiated in the first hour of life in the U.S., as opposed to the first half-hour elsewhere. Also, in the US we have interpreted Step 6 "Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated," as "Give breastfed newborns....." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What about purchasing formula? Must my hospital purchase all formula used to pass? Yes. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative supports the World Health Organization Code on the Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes ("WHO Code"). The WHO Code stipulates that health care facilities and professionals neither accept nor offer free or low-cost substitutes for human milk. In keeping with the WHO Code, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative asks facilities to purchase all infant formula in the same manner as it purchases all other supplies. Additionally, facilities should not give infant formula samples, literature, or other items bearing the name of an infant formula product to breastfeeding mothers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step two says "train all staff." Our physicians on staff are not technically employees of the hospital. Do they have to be trained? Yes. The External Review Board, composed of knowledgeable experts in the fields of medicine, public health, and nursing, have determined that any pediatrician, obstetrician, or family practice physician with a practice including breastfeeding families who has staff privileges at a hospital or birthing center must be trained in the advantages and management of breastfeeding. The amount and content of training offered may be tailored to needs of different professionals. For example, nursing staff with primary responsibility for helping mothers initiate breastfeeding should have, at minimum, 18 hours of training as identified by UNICEF. Physicians must have a minimum of 3 hours training. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our hospital is applying for a Certificate of Intent. How soon can we be assessed? Hospitals and birth centers indicate their readiness for assessment by responding to semi-annual check-ins. Follow-up phone calls will be made to those who indicate readiness. Priority for assessment is given to facilities that have held Certificates for more than one year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When can we use the terminology of "Baby-Friendly Hospital"? Only when your facility has been assessed, approved by the External Review Board, and the CEO has received the letter from the External Review Board. Use of the trademarked term "Baby-Friendly" is restricted only to fully designated facilities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why should our facility consider becoming a Baby-Friendly facility? For many reasons! First, for the health of our most vulnerable citizens - our babies. Full implementation of the Ten Steps benefits all babies - even those who are not breastfed - by improving mother-baby contact and education. Hospitals are also finding that women who are well supported in vulnerable postpartum period are likely to become long-term clients of the hospital, referring other family members and peers to the facility. |
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