Woodland Memorial Hospital Number Two in State for Exclusive Breastfeeding
A recently released statewide report on in-hospital breastfeeding rates shows that Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital, a certified Baby-Friendly facility, is among the top tier in offering babies the health benefits and protections that breast milk provides. Woodland Memorial Hospital is ranked number two in the state, for exclusive breastfeeding rates, with a 94.3% exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge, well over the statewide average of 64.6%.
“This recognition shows the ongoing commitment of our staff and providers to encourage breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for babies,” states Eve Dunaway, Lactation Consultant at Woodland Memorial Hospital. “By encouraging breastfeeding, we can have decreased numbers of obese children later in life, and the diseases associated with obesity.”
Over the past several years, there has been a major push to encourage increased breastfeeding rates for babies before they leave the hospital. Exclusive breastfeeding is when the baby receives only breast milk and no other food or fluid. Yolo County is the second highest county in the state, with an 88.4% exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge.
Children who are breastfed exclusively for the first few months, have the lowest risk for overweight and obesity. Breastfeeding babies is a low-tech, low-cost health intervention that gives children a healthy start in life, and provides reduced risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and obesity.
Because of these proven health benefits, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the World Health Organization all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
Breastfeeding support does not stop at hospital discharge. Woodland Memorial Hospital and Woodland Clinic Medical Group patients have ongoing breastfeeding support through lactation appointments, and post-partum support groups, offered on-site.
Read more about breastfeeding rates.
About Woodland Healthcare
Woodland Healthcare is Yolo County’s largest healthcare provider, serving the community since 1905. An integrated organization, Woodland Healthcare is comprised of Woodland Memorial Hospital, a 108-bed acute care facility and Woodland Clinic, a medical group of more than 120 healthcare providers. Woodland Healthcare offers the most comprehensive range of healthcare services in Yolo County, including onsite laboratory, imaging and pharmacy services. Woodland Healthcare is part of Dignity Health. Dignity Health, one of the nation’s five largest health care systems, is a 21-state network of nearly 11,000 physicians, 56,000 employees, and more than 300 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics.
About Dignity Health
Dignity Health, one of the nation’s five largest health care systems, is a 21-state network of nearly 11,000 physicians, 56,000 employees, and more than 300 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. In 2012, Dignity Health provided $1.6 billion in charitable care and services. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Publish date:
Monday, October 27, 2014