(Emporia, KS) — Newman Regional Health has once again been recognized by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund as a “High 5 for Mom & Baby” hospital for its continued commitment to infant and maternal health.

The “High 5 for Mom & Baby” program provides resources and a framework to help Kansas hospitals and birthing centers improve health outcomes for breastfeeding women and their infants. To obtain this recognition, each facility is asked to complete a voluntary and self-reported evaluation and to follow at least five of the ten below evidence-based practices.

1. Facility will have a written maternity care and infant feeding policy that addresses all ten High 5 for Mom & Baby practices supporting breastfeeding
2. Facility will maintain staff competency in lactation support
3. All pregnant women will receive information and instruction on breastfeeding
4. Assure immediate and sustained skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth
5. All families will receive individualized infant feeding counseling
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated
7. Practice “rooming in” to allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day
8. Families will be encouraged to feed their babies when the baby exhibits feeding cues, regardless of feeding methods
9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants
10. Provide mothers options for breastfeeding support in the community (such as a telephone number, walk-in clinic information, support groups, etc.) upon discharge
    These steps are designed to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in the state of Kansas. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 60% of mothers stopped breastfeeding sooner than they planned. Some factors that influence how long or if a baby is breastfed include: hospital practices, education and encouragement, policies or support in the workplace, and access to community support.

Along with the recognition of being named a “High 5 for Mom & Baby” facility, Newman Regional Health also receives on-going education and training opportunities, support and resources through a community of delivery centers.

“We couldn’t be happier to have received this prestigious recognition from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund for our efforts,” said Heather Aylward, Director of the Women’s Life Center at Newman Regional Health. “We pride ourselves on the care we are giving our patients and to be able to provide these resources to new mothers and babies is extremely valuable!”

For more information on the “High 5 for Mom & Baby” program, contact Gwen Whittit, Program Coordinator at coordinator@high5kansas.org or visit https://www.high5kansas.org/