Breastfeeding Support

Mon Health Medical Center promotes, protects and supports breastfeeding. We follow the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization’s guidelines and recommend exclusive breastfeeding. 

Baby-Friendly USA, a World Health Organization sponsored program, approved Mon Health Medical Center as West Virginia’s first Baby-Friendly designated birth facility.

To achieve the international, prestigious recognition, Mon Health Family Birth Center demonstrated that it consistently follows the "10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding."

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.

Our breastfeeding class helps empower families to know when breastfeeding is going well or when they may need more assistance.

After birth, our educated staff helps with breastfeeding to ensure that your breastfeeding experience is off to a positive start.  If you have questions or problems, you may ask to speak with a Lactation Consultant.  

Mon Health's commitment to breastfeeding does not end when you leave the hospital.  If you have questions, concerns or difficulties, you can call and speak with a Lactation Consultant as an outpatient. 



Mon Health's devotion to breastfeeding continues to grow.  All of our nursing staff receives breastfeeding orientation and continuing education. 

Please contact the Mon Health Family Birth Center with questions or concerns:
304-598-1616