AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Receives Prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation

March 20, 2023 — Wesley Chapel, Fla. – AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after 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 AdventHealth Wesley Chapel is adhering 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.

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 600 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.

“We are honored to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process,” said Dawn Hicks-Waldron, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. AdventHealth Wesley Chapel is committed to providing the support, education, and resources moms need to successfully initiate breastfeeding and continue breastfeeding when they leave our care.”

About AdventHealth Wesley Chapel

From state-of-the-art equipment to the most intricate building details, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel was designed from the ground up to maximize healing, patient care, and wellness.

Since opening in October of 2012, the hospital has been recognized as a leader in patient satisfaction, quality, and safety, earning national recognitions including, being the only hospital in Tampa Bay to receive a 5-star CMS ranking in 2020. The hospital offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient health services, including surgery, imaging, and rehabilitation services, emergency services for adults and children, and Inspiration Place, a comprehensive women’s health center that incorporates female physician specialists, women’s imaging, pelvic floor, and female physical therapy and a boutique spa. In addition, the hospital opened in January 2018 an offsite 24 bed, 24/7 emergency room in Central Pasco to better serve the emergency health needs of residents in west and central Pasco. In 2021, the hospital opened a new 100,000 square foot medical office building on campus, a new Oncology unit with 24 in-patient rooms, and two new Operating Rooms. The hospital features a 50,000 sq. ft. community fitness, Wellness Center, and a wide range of community offerings such as health and wellness presentations, screenings, and events.

For more information about AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, visit www.AHWesleyChapel.com, or Facebook.com/AdventHealthWesleyChapel

About Baby-Friendly USA

As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.