Your Baby-Friendly Hospital

We're proud to lead our state in caring for babies and mothers. That's why we've worked hard to become a Baby-Friendly designated hospital—the first in Mississippi. At Forrest General, we love our babies and we're committed to giving them the best possible start in life.

Being Baby-Friendly means we’re also one of only 595 hospitals and birth centers in the entire country to earn this recognition. It also means we take extra measures to provide the highest standard of care for lactating mothers and their babies. For moms and babies to receive the numerous benefits of breastfeeding we recommend following the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding listed below:

1 A. Comply fully with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions.

1 B. Have a written infant feeding policy that is routinely communicated to staff and parents.

1 C. Establish ongoing monitoring and data-management systems.

2. Ensure that staff have sufficient knowledge, competence and skills to support breastfeeding.

3. Discuss the importance and management of breastfeeding with pregnant women and their families.

4. Facilitate immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and support mothers to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth.

5. Support mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding and manage common difficulties.

6. Do not provide breastfed newborns any food or fluids other than breast-milk, unless medically indicated.

7. Enable mothers and their infants to remain together and to practice rooming-in 24 hours a day.

8. Support mothers to recognize and respond to their infants’ cues for feeding.

9. Counsel mothers on the use and risks of feeding bottles, artificial nipples (teats) and pacifiers.

10. Coordinate discharge so that parents and their infants have timely access to ongoing support and care.

If you’re looking for a friendly place to welcome your baby, look to Forrest General!