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Friendly
means optimal care
says Carla Wham, director of the Community
Health Education department for Georgetown
Hospital System. “Human milk provides the
optimal mix of nutrients and antibodies.
Scienti c studies show that the breastfed
children have far fewer and less severe illnesses
than those who never receive breast milk,
including a reduced risk for SIDS, childhood
obesity, cancers and diabetes.
ere are also
bene ts for the moms, including decreased risk
of breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes, and
osteoporosis.”
Gayle Resetar, chief operating o cer
for Georgetown Hospital System, said the
designation will have a huge impact on
the health of mothers and children in the
community. “ is is an important distinction
for Waccamaw Community Hospital and one
that will impact the health of women and
children in our community,” Resetar says.
“Our OB Services team and the sta of our
Community Health Education department
have worked diligently to implement best
practices for care, and being named a Baby-
Friendly hospital demonstrates that we have
met the gold standard for mother/baby care.
anks to their e ort, more babies will begin
life with a healthier start.”
At WCH, sta is trained to counsel and care
for mothers and babies, and the hospital has
implemented policies that encourage bonding.
Newborns are placed skin-to-skin with their
mothers immediately a er birth, and healthy
babies and their mothers stay together day
and night so they can get to know each other,
says Cheryl Kilbourne, director of OB Services
at WCH.
“Being together gives new parents
opportunities to learn about normal baby
behavior while knowing that well-trained,
experienced sta is nearby to answer questions
about everything from movements to breathing
patterns,” Kilbourne says.
WCH joins the 160 U.S. hospitals and birth
centers and more than 20,000 organizations
around the world that have been recognized
as Baby-Friendly.
e designation is awarded
a er a rigorous on-site survey examining a
hospital’s policies, practices and procedures
has been completed.
e award is maintained
by continuing to practice the “Ten Steps to
Successful Breastfeeding” as demonstrated
by quality processes.
