News Releases
Breast-Feeding
Program Helps New Mothers Explore Healthy Options for Newborn Nutrition
Memorial Hermann Fort Bend Hospital earns state designation Houston, Texas,
October 27, 2004 – Newborns greeting the world at Memorial
Hermann Fort Bend Hospital get a head start to health through a program that provides their mothers the opportunity to receive important information about the nutritional
benefits of breast-feeding. The educational efforts of maternity staff
earned the Texas
Ten Step Hospital designation from the Texas
Department of State Health Services and the Texas
Hospital Association.
Through 10 goals
or “steps,” Memorial Hermann Fort Bend
Hospital supports mothers who choose to breast-feed before, during
and after delivery – even identifying supplemental resources
for mothers to use after discharge. Hospitals participating in the
Texas Ten Step program are helping the state achieve the Texas Breastfeeding
Initiative’s goal of ensuring that 75 percent of newborns are
receiving mothers’ milk before going home.
Maternity staff members receive special training within the first
six months of employment and annual updates. This training covers the
advantages, anatomy and physiology of breast-feeding, how to solve
commonly associated problems, and the impact of introducing formula
and pacifiers before breast-feeding is established. Training also includes
supervised clinical experience, a system of referrals to specialists
after hospital discharge, and a list of community resources.
Studies show that
breast-feeding boosts newborns’ immune
systems and that such babies are less likely to develop a variety
of infections,
allergies and diseases.
“The community
we serve attracts people who are starting or growing families, and
earning the Texas Ten Step designation underscores
our commitment to support healthy families by providing high-quality
care and education to new mothers,” said Felicia Lane, RN, Director
of Perinatal Services at Memorial Hermann Fort Bend Hospital.
For more information,
contact Media Relations.
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