Salinas Valley Health Earns Prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

August 31, 2022 –Salinas Valley Health is proud to have once again achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation. The re-designation announcement follows a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.

This distinguished honor demonstrates that Salinas Valley Health adheres to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.

“Salinas Valley Health has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” says Pete Delgado, president/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “This designation is a testament to our commitment to the community that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. Numerous studies demonstrate breast milk is uniquely suited to an infant’s nutritional needs and provides unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.

“This designation is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination across our organization, all with a goal of helping families,” said Holly Shannon, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, Lactation Services at Salinas Valley Health. “We’re proud to offer an environment that supports best practices shown to increase breastfeeding and are committed to give moms who choose to breastfeed the best chance for success.”

Salinas Valley Health first received the Baby-Friendly designation in 2011 and must meet strict guidelines and processes for recertification every five years. There are only 600 designated Baby-Friendly facilities in the United States with approximately 27% of births nationwide occurring in Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers. The comprehensive lactation services at Salinas Valley Health include both inpatient and outpatient care from international board-certified lactation consultants.

In addition to comprehensive lactation services and support programs, Salinas Valley Health also provides new parents state of the art technology and services which offer a wide range of options and peace of mind for expectant moms. Approximately 1800 babies are born every year at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center.