St. Joseph Hospital Receives Baby-Friendly Designation from World Health Organization and UNICEF

Breastfeeding Initiative and Distinction is First for Orange County
ORANGE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Baby-Friendly USA, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization
and the United States Children`s Fund (UNICEF), today announced that St. Joseph
Hospital in Orange has received recognition as a Baby-Friendly birth facility,
the first hospital to achieve such distinction in Orange County. More than two
decades of research have established that breast milk is perfectly suited to
nourish infants and protect them from illness. Breast-fed infants have lower
rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and
other medical problems than bottle-fed babies, says the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.

Baby-Friendly USA is the U.S. Authority for the implementation of the Baby
Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global effort to encourage and recognize
hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for
breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

"This remarkable milestone is the result of four years of planning and action to
make sure Orange County moms and their babies are off to a healthy start," said
Nurse Manager Carol Suchy St. Joseph Hospital, who led the hospital`s
Baby-Friendly Initiative. "While this was an entire hospital-wide effort,
special thanks go to our tireless OB team that spearheaded this initiative."

There are more than 19,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers
worldwide and St. Joseph Hospital is the first in Orange County to receive the
international award. The "Baby-Friendly" designation is given after a rigorous
on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice
by quality processes.

"St. Joseph Hospital hopes to boost breastfeeding rates by increasing staff
training, eliminating formula marketing to the families, and creating a
comfortable environment that supports breastfeeding," adds Suchy. "By providing
early support and information to parents and creating an environment that
enhances parent-child attachment, we hope to improve new mothers` breastfeeding
rates in Orange County."

The support from the hospital also continues after mothers leave St. Joseph
Hospital. The award-winning Mother Baby Assessment Center follows the journey of
motherhood from start to finish including follow up three to five days after a
mother gives birth. This service is one of the most comprehensive services of
its kind in Orange County and is open to all new mothers in the community
regardless of whether they have delivered at St. Joseph Hospital. The Mother
Baby Assessment Center also includes The Stork Stop Boutique. The boutique is
also open to all new parents and carries specialty baby items, lactation
supplies, nursing clothing, feeding accessories, developmental toys, and offers
classes for parents.

In celebration of this designation, St. Joseph Hospital will distribute the
special Mommy & Me`s Playgroup in a Bag to all mothers in the hospital as well
as mothers that visit the Mother Baby Assessment Center. Mommy & Me, owned by
Cookie Jar Entertainment, is donating over 10,000 Playgroup in a Bag`s. These
bags include Mommy & Me CDs, DVDs, hand puppets and other activity toys to help
moms recreate the playgroup experience with her child at home.

MGA, Inc.
Jay Geer, 562-467-2020
Anne Milo, 562-810-3016
or
St. Joseph Hospital
Ashley Dinielli, 714-744-8780

Copyright Business Wire 2009