Casey Hospital was officially named a Baby Friendly Hospital last week much to the delight of staff and patients. Baby Friendly Hospital coordinator at Casey Hospital Lynne Stewart, left, with proud new parents Greg Smith and Rebecca Frazer of Bunyip, baby Maddison Frazer Smith, and Casey midwifery services manager Kym Davey.
Rebecca Fraser
WHEN firsttime mother Rebecca Frazer gave birth at Casey Hospital last week, the Bunyip resident found the nursing staff friendly.
That was not surprising, considering the Berwick facility was officially recognised as a Baby Friendly Hospital last Friday after receiving formal accreditation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.
Hospital maternity staff spent hours increasing their skills and knowledge of infant feeding to achieve the new accreditation, gaining additional breastfeeding knowledge and information on lactation skills.
Independent assessors from the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) then interviewed midwives, doctors and patients across the maternity services before accrediting the hospital.
The BFHI was developed jointly by the WHO and UNICEF and is an international project that promotes infant health.
Casey midwifery services manager Kym Davey said the maternity unit was opened in March 2005, so it was impressive that the hospital had already received BFHI accreditation.
“It’s a lengthy process and the assessors didn’t think we would receive it as we had only just opened when they started their assessment process in December,” she said.
BFHI assessor and breastfeeding counsellor Karen Commisso said she was impressed by Casey Hospital’s maternity unit.
“They did it (their accreditation) brilliantly,” she said.
“A lot of mothers here have had babies at other hospitals and have commented how positive the experience has been at Casey Hospital.
“The most important thing is that new mothers receive consistent information.
“Here they are not getting a new nurse every shift who has a different theory on breastfeeding, and mothers are getting the same message all the time.
“New mothers are very vulnerable and it is important that they are given strong and consistent information,” Ms Commisso said.
Baby Friendly Hospital coordinator at Casey Hospital Lynne Stewart said the new accreditation highlighted the strong commitment of the nursing unit to deliver the best support to new mothers.
The trained midwife said mothers were educated about breastfeeding from the moment they booked into Casey Hospital, and nurses also conducted followup visits after the new parents had gone home.
Ms Frazer gave birth to Maddison Frazer Smith last Wednesday, and said Casey Hospital staff had really helped her with breastfeeding and caring for her new daughter.
“They have been great – very helpful,” she said
