Maryland Breastfeeding Policy Recommendations
Letters of Commitment Summary
In November 2012, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) launched a statewide initiative to help hospitals improve the support that hospitals give to breastfeeding mothers. At that time, all 32 birthing hospitals in Maryland committed to this quality improvement process. In January 2016, nearly 85% of the birthing hospitals reaffirmed their commitments.
Hospitals were encouraged to sign a letter of intent to become designated as Baby-Friendly through the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, or to follow the Maryland Hospital Breastfeeding Policy Recommendations as outlined by MDH. Both avenues to improvement are based on the WHO/UNICEF Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and include evidence-based hospital practices that increase rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity for healthy full term infants whose mothers have chosen to breastfeed.
Baby-Friendly Designations
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Adventist HealthCare-Shady Grove Medical Center
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Calvert Memorial Hospital
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Howard County General Hospital
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MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
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MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
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The Johns Hopkins Hospital
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Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
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Walter Reed National Medical Center
Five hospitals have expressed their intent to be certified as Baby-Friendly
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Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital
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Holy Cross Germantown
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MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
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Saint Agnes Hospital
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University of Maryland Medical Center
Twenty hospitals have signed letters of commitment to meet Maryland Breastfeeding Best Practices
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Anne Arundel Medical Center
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Carroll Hospital Center
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Frederick Regional Health System
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Garrett Regional Medical Center
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Greater Baltimore Medical Center
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Holy Cross Hospital Silver Spring
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Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
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MedStar Harbor Hospital
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MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
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Mercy Medical Center
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Meritus Medical Center
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Peninsula Regional Medical Center
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Prince George’s Hospital Center
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Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
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Union Hospital of Cecil County
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University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
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University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center
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University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton
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University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center
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Western Maryland Health System
