Capitol Medical Center, a tertiary hospital located in Quezon City has committed itself to the delivery of quality health care services to all mothers and their newborn babies.  CMC has been awarded the Certificate of Commitment to be a Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital by the Department of Health Center for Health Development of the National Capital Region (DOH CHD-NCR).  CMC is working its way to receive a Full Accreditation from the DOH as an institution that upholds the Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI). MBFHI is a global program of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund being implemented by the DOH.  The goal of the MBFHI is to encourage optimal breastfeeding practices through prolonged, exclusive and early initiated breastfeeding.  Such practices have been proven to protect infants against different infectious and chronic diseases and are essential for cognitive development.

The MBFHI was launched by the Department of Health in line with Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992 (RA7600).  All private and government hospitals offering maternity and newborn care may be accredited as a Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital if they implement the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as adopted from the UNICEF/WHO criteria of BFI.

    1.         Have a written Breastfeeding Policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

    2.     Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

    3.     Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

    4.     Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth.

    5.     Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.   

    6.     Show mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.

    7.     Practice rooming-in – that is, allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.

    8.     Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

    9.     Give no artificial teats or “pacifiers” (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

    10.      Foster establishment of breastfeeding support groups

 

Capitol Medical Center implements the MBFHI 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, through its Breastfeeding and Photo contests and poster making contests during the breastfeeding month of August were participated upon by the hospital employees and visitors of the hospital as well, were held to raise consciousness on the benefits of breastfeeding. Regular lectures during the third Wednesday of each month are given by members of the Breastfeeding and Lactation Committee to pregnant women who are on their last trimester of pregnancy to prepare them and make them aware of the advantages of early, prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding and rooming-in as are implemented in the institution.Lactation Committee spearheaded by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Pediatrics with help from the Nursing Staff Office and MEPDE.  Hospital Policies on Breastfeeding and Rooming-in were reviewed, revised and updated by the committee to conform with the DOH policies. Activities to heighten awareness and deepen the understanding of the importance of breastfeeding were also undertaken. Hospital staff undergoes training on these subjects on a regular basis.

 

 

 

Trained personnel regularly make rounds with the mothers and babies who are roomed-in.  They help mothers find the most comfortable position of breastfeeding, coach them on proper attachment of their babies, give reassurance to first time mothers and try to address their other problems on lactation.

 

The Lactation Room located at the 4th floor of the CMC V Bldg. was set aside to allow lactating employees and visitors alike, to breastfeed and express milk during their tour of duty. The room is equipped with breast-feeding appliances, a sink and comfortable seats that provide a conducive relaxing environment to express milk. Reading materials on breastfeeding are also available for the those who use the room.

Just recently, CMC held a MOA signing with the Quezon City Government Health Department as a center of our referral for discharged lactating patients who have problems with breastfeeding. This is in fulfillment of the 10th Step to Successful Breastfeeding of the MBFHI.

The hospital, in its commitment to continuously offer quality maternity services, providing excellence care to mothers and their babies, believes that breastfeeding is still best for babies and mothers alike.