CLAREMORE, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Department of Health says Claremore Indian Hospital has been designated a “Baby Friendly” hospital for its maternity care.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is pleased to acknowledge that the Claremore Indian Hospital has received the first-in-Oklahoma designation as a “Baby Friendly” hospital. Baby-Friendly designation is the gold standard bestowed by Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., the national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global initiative of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. This is the highest designation afforded to hospitals by an accrediting body that promotes best practices for maternity care.

Only seven percent of U.S. babies are born in Baby-Friendly hospitals. Hospitals that are designated as Baby-Friendly have demonstrated best practice in the care of mothers and newborns and improved breastfeeding rates.  In addition, Baby-Friendly hospitals support mother-baby bonding by keeping mothers and babies together, putting babies in skin-to-skin contact right after birth, educating all families on best infant feeding practices, and educating hospital staff on procedures to better support new families.

“We appreciate Claremore Indian Hospital’s vigorous efforts to promote maternal and infant health as part of Oklahoma’s efforts to reduce infant mortality,” said OSDH State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline.

The OSDH is encouraging other hospitals to follow in Claremore Indian Hospital’s footsteps.  Claremore Indian Hospital participated in the statewide Becoming Baby-Friendly in Oklahoma project as a member of the initial “Trailblazer” group working to achieve this designation of quality maternal/newborn care. Other hospitals in Oklahoma are working to achieve the designation. They are: Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, INTEGRIS Health in Edmond, Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, OU Medical Center in Edmond and St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City.