Baby-Friendly Care and Breastfeeding Support

Breastfeeding sets your baby up for lifelong health. Even experienced moms — and their babies — can benefit from lactation counseling. Specially trained, compassionate staff at Tidelands Health will make sure you and your little one get the most out of your breastfeeding experience. 

Baby-Friendly Designation

You’ll get information, skills and encouragement at Tidelands Health to help you give your baby nutritious breast milk. Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital has earned the designation of Baby Friendly, an initiative created by the World Health Organization and UNICEF to promote breastfeeding and mother-baby bonding. You won’t find our level of care for infant feeding at many other health care facilities — we’re among a few hospitals nationwide with Baby-Friendly recognition.  

Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding

You and your baby benefit because Tidelands Waccamaw follows these important steps for Baby-Friendly care:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2. Train all health care staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
6. Give infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming in — allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or birth center. 

Bonding with Your Baby

Having close contact with your baby soon after birth helps the mother-child relationship bloom. That’s why you’ll get an hour of skin-to-skin time with your newborn immediately after either a vaginal delivery or a C-section. During your recovery, your baby will stay with you — not in a nursery — so both of you can continue bonding.

Lactation Consultations After You Return Home

No matter where your baby was born, you may get help from the certified lactation consultants at Tidelands Health free of charge. Our specialists help you and your baby have a positive breastfeeding experience. In our region, you’ll find this service only through Tidelands Health. 

Donate Your Extra Milk

Sometimes, new mothers can’t produce enough milk for their newborns, especially when those babies are premature. You can help babies grow healthier and stronger by donating your extra breast milk at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, the only breast milk depository in the area. Visit scmilkbank.org to find out how you can get started. Your donation will go to a breast milk bank at MUSC Health and may ultimately benefit sick, low-weight babies.