Instant skin-to-skin contact, breast feeding, and building a bond are some of the integral parts of being named an international baby-friendly facility.
The Bonnyville Health Centre is the third hospital in Alberta to receive this recognition, and they couldn't be prouder.
But, this wasn't the only reason to celebrate. The local healthcare centre was also named the first in North America to translate the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) into Cree language.
"This proves to the world that we're one of the best facilities for delivering babies here in Canada," expressed Alex Smyl, recently retired site administrator for the Bonnyville Health Centre.
It took staff five years to fully implement the BFI, but it was a task worth taking.
The initiative is a worldwide strategy of evidence-based standards that enhance baby feeding, whether it's through breast feeding or a bottle.
"A baby-friendly hospital, is really about trying to set up a mother with the information that she needs in terms of options and benefits when it comes to breast feeding, and then supporting her through that process," expressed Rosa Rudelich, vice-president and chief operating officer for Covenant Health. "I think what is important, is it's referred to as baby-friendly, because some mothers do choose not to breast feed, and that's fine. You have to help them through what is available to them."
The initiative was developed by the World Health Organization, and implemented in Canada by the national Breast feeding Committee.
The BFI puts an emphasis on the importance of skin-to-skin contact between a mother and baby immediately after birth, and has mothers rooming with their little ones 24-hours a day while in the hospital.
For local mom, Cassie Lesyk, these were important when she gave birth to her two kids.
"As a mom who is currently breast feeding, and breast fed my eldest, I think it's incredibly important, because those first few days, and that first latch, can really make or break your entire breast feeding relationship," she said. "To have that support in place in the hospital, and just for the mentality to be supportive of breast feeding, is really crucial for moms."
Lesyk delivered both her children at the Bonnyville Health Centre.
She said, "I had a wonderful experience with everything from baby gets to room in with you, immediate skin-to-skin after birth, and unless baby is struggling they don't take them away to weigh them or anything, they wait until the baby can do the first latch. Everything is very calm and relaxed. I feel it's very mom and baby focused. It's not all about what the doctor or nurse wants, it's what's best for mom and baby."
This is Covenant Health's second facility to be recognized, and it carries on their missions, values, and vision for health care.
"As we embarked on this initiative, it really did impact the entire organization. You really need to have the support of the staff and the teams," Rudelich noted. "I think with baby-friendly, it's really the entire facility embracing this initiative and providing the support to the moms and babies within the community."
During their plaque unveiling on Thursday, March 2, representatives from the Town and MD of Bonnyville expressed their congratulations to the Bonnyville Health Centre.
Town Coun. Brian McEvoy said, "On behalf of the town, we want to thank everyone who was involved in this project, it's a massive project. But we want to go one step further than that and thank everyone at the Bonnyville Health Centre for what they do for the community in providing some of the best healthcare in Alberta."
Reeve Greg Sawchuk also extended his admiration.
"It's very exciting that an establishment is getting recognition, and for it to happen right here, in our hometown, is just great."
Bonnyville-Cold Lake MLA Scott Cyr agreed, "This is a very exciting day for everyone in Bonnyville. Whenever we hear an improvement in our health services in our area, it's good news...This is something that we can all be proud of."
