In 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) came together to launch a global initiative to encourage breastfeeding. The goals were to inform mothers of the benefits of breast milk and to remove commercial interests from hospitals.
To receive a Baby-Friendly Hospital designation, care centers must meet ten criteria, which include staff training, educating mothers about breastfeeding and allowing infants to remain with their mothers 24 hours a day.
Sutter Health is committed to helping mothers who want to breastfeed. Five birth centers in the our network have earned the Baby-Friendly Hospital designation:
- Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento
- Sutter Davis Hospital
- Sutter Amador Hospital
- Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center of Santa Cruz
- Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
Additional centers in Sutter's network are in the process of receiving the Baby-Friendly designation, including: