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Oregon Health Authority

Maternity Care Practices

Following evidence-based maternity care practices influences breastfeeding/chestfeeding exclusivity and duration rates in Oregon.
Most births in Oregon occur in a hospital. Maternity care practices influence a parent's decision to begin breastfeeding/chestfeeding and their success in continuing to provide human milk after leaving the hospital. 

Data

Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) is a national survey of maternity care practices and policies, administered to all hospitals and birth centers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Evidence-based maternity care practices

Strategies for Providing Lactation Services (pdf) 

Read about 5 key strategies for increasing breastfeeding rates in Oregon. These evidence-based strategies will help Coordinated Care Organizations meet the Affordable Care Act and Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission requirements for lactation services.

The CDC Guide to Strategies to Support Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies 

This website showcases evidence-based interventions for improving maternity care practices (pdf), including intrapartum care and immediate postpartum care.
 

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) 

A global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The program encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that provide a set of maternity care practices, known as the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, that result in better breastfeeding outcomes. Hospitals and birthing centers that have made a commitment to following these steps can apply for the Baby-Friendly designation through Baby-Friendly USA.

The Joint Commission 

The Joint Commission accredits and certifies health care organizations in the U.S. Their  Perinatal Care Measures include an exclusive breast milk feeding measure. 

Implementation resources for health care facilities


See Also:

*Studies on breastfeeding have included subjects presumed to be cisgender. When describing health effects seen in mother-infant dyads from research, replacing words to be gender-inclusive is incorrect if the original author or organization did not use such language. (Adapted from Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Position Statement and Guideline)