DALLAS -- Methodist Dallas Medical Center has been named the city's first "Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility" after closing its nursery and no longer offering pacifiers, all in order to promote family bonding and breastfeeding.
The hospital was given the title by Baby-Friendly USA earlier this month.
Newborns and their mothers are now bonding in the same room for 24 hours a day after the hospital closed its nursery.
"Mothers say they sleep better and feel better prepared for discharge when they keep the baby in the room with them during their stay," Perinatal Education/Lactation Coordinator Dani Cagle, BA, IBCLC said. "There are more opportunities for us to teach and moms to learn how to care for their babies when both stay in the same room."
Methodist Dallas has also stopped offering pacifiers to newborns, saying they interferes with successful breastfeeding.
"Not having pacifiers allows the staff to teach parents how to comfort their baby and read his feeding cues," Cagle said.
Parents are still allowed to bring their own pacifier.
Dr. Theresa Patton, an OB/GYN with the hospital, said the public is more educated nowadays about breastfeeding and more moms are trying to use "Baby-Friendly" hospitals.
"It's the best environment to give babies a great start in life," Dr. Patton said.
