Is Your Hospital Gift Certified? 

What is The Gift?

The Gift is a quality improvement and certification program for Louisiana birthing facilities that is based on the best practice model to increase breastfeeding initiation, duration and support.

The Gift is a tool for facilities to enhance their breastfeeding services and promote breastfeeding as the normal and preferred method of infant feeding. Designation as Gift Certified requires a birthing facility to demonstrate that it has met The Gift’s “Ten Steps to a Healthy, Breastfed Baby.”

The Gift is based on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)- a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for lactation” What’s the difference between the BFHI and The Gift? Click here

Why should my facility become Gift Certified?

By becoming Gift Certified, birthing facilities can:

-Improve their mPINC score (CDC National Survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care)

-Increase breastfeeding rates

-Create an optimal environment that enables breastfeeding

Upon becoming Gift Certified, your facility will receive:

* Statewide recognition as a birthing facility that successfully protects, promotes, and supports breastfeeding

* A Golden Gift Breastfeeding Award

* Promotional materials with The Gift logo and the Ten Steps that support your new certification

For more information about The Gift click here or call 504-568-3504.