Watertown Regional Medical Center Receives Prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation
August 11, 2022
Watertown, WI – Watertown Regional Medical Center is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for issuing this certification in the United States.
This distinguished honor demonstrates that WRMC 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.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process,” said Megan Wierschke, Director of Women’s Health at Watertown Regional Medical Center. “WRMC is committed to providing the support, education, and resources moms need to successfully initiate breastfeeding and continue breastfeeding when they leave our care.”
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.”
WRMC joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 595 of which are in the United States, with only 12 being in Wisconsin. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
“WRMC has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns, most recently receiving the ‘Top Maternity Hospital’ recognition by Newsweek,” said Megan Wierschke, Director of Women’s Health at Watertown Regional Medical Center. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”
In addition to achieving the Baby-Friendly designation, Watertown Regional Medical Center is excited to be welcoming two new OB-GYN’s to the Center for Women’s Health. Dr. Kaci Axelson and Dr. Melissa Nehls will be starting on September 1 and are now accepting appointments. Call 920.262.4825 to learn more and to schedule an appointment.
About Watertown Regional Medical Center
Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) has been providing the residents of Dodge and Jefferson counties with excellent healthcare for over 115 years. By placing patients’ needs first, WRMC’s services have grown to include Emergency Care, Primary Care, Women’s Health, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Heart and Vascular, General Surgery, Neurology, Pulmonology, Ophthalmology, and many additional services. For more information and to see a complete list of the services offered, visit www.watertownregional.com.
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.
