MUSC Health Florence Named International Baby-Friendly Certified

MUSC Health Florence Medical Center is thrilled to announce it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States. 

“MUSC Health Florence has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” said Catherine F. Godwin, Director of Women Services. “This designation recognizes our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.” 

Godwin continues, “This achievement could not have been realized without the dedication of our obstetricians, neonatologist, and all care team members in Women’s Health. A very special thanks to the dedication and leadership of our Lactation Consultant, Lela Gregg, IBCLC. Her dedication to this process kept us going and on track through many challenges.” 

This distinguished honor demonstrates that MUSC Health Florence Medical Center adheres to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life. 

“We join a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 590 of which are in the United States,” said MUSC Health Florence Division Chief Executive Officer Jay Hinesley. “These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family. Congratulations to our Women Services team on this prestigious designation.” 

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.” 

“With our Baby-Friendly designation, this is another step in helping us provide evidence-based best practices for our patients. With our love and dedication, we are always committed to providing excellent patient care,” said Lela Gregg, Baby-Friendly & Safe Sleep Coordinator and Lactation Specialist. 

MUSC Health Florence Medical Center was also recently named the only hospital in South Carolina to be a 2022-2023 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care by the U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice. U.S. News evaluated nearly 650 hospitals that provide high-quality labor & delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies for its 2022-2023 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. Fewer than half of all hospitals that offer maternity care and participated in the survey received a High Performing designation.