BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL
Our hospital, Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital, was awarded the title of Baby-Friendly Hospital in 2018. Within this scope, efforts continue to promote breastfeeding, provide mothers with accurate information and proper habits regarding breastfeeding, initiate breastfeeding immediately after birth, and support the continuation of breastfeeding after discharge.
“Breastfeeding is the most perfect way to convey love.”
BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL POLICY
A breastfeeding policy has been established to protect, promote, and support breast milk and breastfeeding.
a) The written breastfeeding policy, shared regularly with staff and parents, is adopted by all personnel.
b) The formula code law is applied, and advertising or marketing of these products directly or indirectly is prohibited.
c) A Baby-Friendly Hospital Committee has been established in our hospital, and practices are continuously monitored via the data management system.
All healthcare personnel in our hospital have received training in accordance with this policy and possess the skills to support mothers regarding breast milk and breastfeeding.
All expectant mothers applying to our hospital are educated on the importance of breast milk and the benefits of breastfeeding.
Mothers are supported to establish skin-to-skin contact with their babies as soon as possible, facilitating the initiation of breastfeeding for all newborns during this period.
Mothers are instructed on breastfeeding techniques, methods, and how to maintain milk production when separated from their babies.
Unless medically necessary, no foods or drinks other than breast milk are given to newborns. Families are informed that exclusive breastfeeding should continue for the first six months, followed by appropriate complementary feeding while continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond.
Our hospital ensures that mothers and babies stay together 24 hours a day during their hospital stay.
Mothers are supported to recognize and respond to signs of hunger in their babies, encouraging breastfeeding on demand.
Pacifiers, artificial nipples, and bottles are not given to breastfed infants, and families are informed about the associated risks.
Parents are informed before discharge about centers providing ongoing support and care for breastfeeding. After discharge, mother and baby are monitored, and breastfeeding is encouraged.
BABY-FRIENDLY NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital is both a “Baby-Friendly Hospital” and the only “Newborn-Friendly Hospital” in Adıyaman. Our neonatal intensive care unit has a total of 50 beds: Level 1 – 10 beds, Level 2 – 14 beds, Level 3 – 26 beds. Observation rooms are available for babies who may require hospitalization, and milk preparation rooms are available for storing and preparing breast milk. The neonatal intensive care unit serves newborns requiring advanced care due to health issues in premature (preterm) and term (full-term) infants.
In addition to the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal illnesses, services include incubator care, exchange transfusion, phototherapy, mechanical ventilation, EEG monitoring, ultrasonography, kangaroo care, ROP examination in the ROP room, echocardiography, and hypothermia treatment.
A mother’s hotel is available for mothers of babies in intensive care, allowing them to see their babies according to intensive care schedules. Mother-baby bonding is prioritized, and follow-up for newborns who require continued care at home is conducted in the mother-baby unit, with education provided on the importance of breastfeeding.
NICU BREASTFEEDING POLICY
All healthcare personnel in neonatal intensive care units have received training in breastfeeding counseling, including feeding low-birth-weight and/or high-risk infants, and are competent to provide this training.
For babies in the NICU who cannot breastfeed, mothers’ breasts are expressed within the first six hours postpartum, repeated every 2–3 hours to stimulate milk production.
Except when the mother is unavailable or breastfeeding is contraindicated, newborns in the NICU are fed with their own mother’s milk.
Babies able to breastfeed are encouraged to do so immediately. When maternal milk is insufficient, relactation is supported with breastfeeding aids. Babies unable to breastfeed are fed using cups, syringes, or feeding tubes.
Mother-baby bonding is emphasized; skin-to-skin contact is maximized, and technical interventions are minimized to support kangaroo care. Babies requiring monitoring before discharge continue to be followed in the mother-baby care unit.
