Baby-Friendly® Designation
Northridge Hospital is one of less than 20 percent of hospitals in the U.S. to earn this Baby-Friendly® Designation for adopting care practices that promote the highest level of breastfeeding support and education in the first crucial months of a baby's life.
The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was launched in 1991 by the World Health Organization and UNICEF to improve the role of maternity services to enable mothers to breastfeed their babies.
Hospitals receive such a designation only after significant effort. The criteria are challenging, as they are designed to set the standards for the best possible breastfeeding support for mother and infant in the maternity setting, insuring high quality of care in this critical area of mother/baby care. Thanks to a grant from First 5 LA, the hospital has been able to develop an excellent start for babies born here.
Maternity care is a large specialty at Northridge Hospital where we provide specialized education to nurses in the Family Birth Center, and where certified lactation nurses help new moms enjoy a successful breastfeeding experience.
Northridge Hospital is proud to join four other Dignity Health Southern California hospitals that are designated as Baby-Friendly: Glendale Memorial Hospital; St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach; St. Bernardine Medical Center; and Community Hospital of San Bernardino.