Among other things I am very happy to give this news because it is my hospital. The Puerta de Hierro Hospital de Majadahonda has approved the evaluation of the IHAN (Initiative for the Humanization of Birth Assistance and Lactation) - UNICEF and It has been accredited as “Children's Friendly Hospital” for its commitment in the promotion of breastfeeding.
It thus becomes the second hospital of the public health network of the Community of Madrid that obtains this award, after the Fuenlabrada Hospital.
But what does it mean to be a “Children's Friendly Hospital”? The Hospital Amigo de los Niños (IHAN) initiative is promoted by the World Health Organization and UNICEF with the objective that the centers promote and support exclusive breastfeeding from birth, guaranteeing the fulfillment of the ten steps towards a happy lactation maternal
The professionals who make up the Breastfeeding Committee of the Puerta de Hierro Hospital have worked hard to achieve this recognition. They have implemented a strategy through the creation of a Breastfeeding Protocol, the holding of courses for the training of center staff in breastfeeding and the development of information material for mothers.
The goal is to help mothers in the first moments of life of babies by promoting the skin-to-skin technique, even in the case of premature babies through the kangaroo method, open the neonatal units to the parents for 24 hours, teach techniques breastfeeding, allow the mother to continue in contact with the baby, promote breastfeeding on demand and create breastfeeding support groups once discharge.
For all this, we congratulate you on Puerta de Hierro Hospital for having obtained accreditation “Children's Friendly Hospital”. Hopefully, the fulfillment of these famous ten steps will be extended to the rest of the country's maternity hospitals, both public and private.
