North Oaks Medical Center Achieves Louisiana's Highest Breastfeeding Quality Designation

North Oaks Medical Center proudly announces earning Louisiana’s primary breastfeeding designation given by TheGift. The Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health – Bureau of Family Health awards The Giftdesignation statewide to Louisiana birthing facilities who improve hospital practices and policies that are aligned with the evidence-based, internationally recognized Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding of the World Health Organization/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Policy development, education of staff, patient education and provision of discharge resources for breastfeeding mothers are key components of the program.

“We are thrilled to join the family of top-tier maternity facilities in the state in receiving The Gift designation,” affirms Kimberly Woods, Director of North Oaks Women & Children’s Services. “This achievement demonstrates our team’s commitment to offering quality, patient-centered care and highlights how North Oaks goes the extra mile to help give mothers and babies a healthy start, as well as assures that we are fully supporting mothers who choose to breastfeed.”

The Gift is an evidence-based designation program for Louisiana birthing facilities designed to increase breastfeeding rates and hospital success by improving the quality of maternity services and enhancing patient-centered care. The Gift designation gives North Oaks Medical Center a better opportunity to achieve further certifications and accreditations, as well as meet national and international quality measures and standards of care.

“Our goal is to provide mothers and babies with the very best information and tools at this crucial moment in their lives and we are able to do so through valuable hospital partners like North Oaks Medical Center,” noted Marci Brewer Asling, State Breastfeeding Program Manager, Bureau of Family Health. “The Gift program encourages continued progress toward the pursuit of the international designation, Baby-Friendly, a global initiative to promote hospitals and birthing centers that offer optimal care in lactation services.”