UKIAH, Calif. – Ukiah Valley Medical Center’s Family Birth Center has received the IBCLC Care Award by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and the International Lactation Consultant Association.

In fact, UVMC is one of only 20 health care facilities in California to receive this award.

The IBCLC Care Award is a special recognition given to Hospital-based facilities and community based agencies that staff an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant as part of the care team serving new families.

To be eligible, the facility must have a currently certified IBCLC on staff, a professional lactation support program available five-to-seven days a week, evidence of having completed a breastfeeding or lactation consultant promotion/support project, and breastfeeding training for staff within the last two years.

“I am so proud of our lactation team,” said Donna Bauer, director of the Family Birth Center. “This is not an easy award to achieve and requires that the lactation team put evidence-based initiatives in place to help new mom’s achieve their desire to breastfeed.”

Bauer also shared that the award is a reflection of how well the nursing team worked together. “Everyone wanted to help and contribute. Each of the Family Birth Center nurses is knowledgeable about breastfeeding – providing education and support for mothers desiring to breastfeed.”

According to Registered Nurse, Terri Curtis, and lactation consultant, “I am honored that UVMC was given the IBCLC Care Award.”

Curtis is a certified IBCLC lactation consultant and leads the lactation team – which consists of certified lactation educators and a peer breastfeeding counselor.

“We’ve put several new practices in place which helped us achieve this award,” said Curtis.

One of these initiatives – Skin to Skin – encourages mothers to have skin-to-skin contact with their baby in the first hour after delivery. Research has shown this allows baby and mom to become familiar with each other, allowing them to form a bond which facilitates the establishment of breastfeeding.

UVMC is committed to serving the community by providing destination-quality health care services, like the Family Birth Center which offers large private birthing suites, a special care nursery (Level II NICU), breastfeeding specialists and childbirth classes.

For more information on childbirth classes, to schedule a tour of the Family Birth Center, or speak with a breastfeeding specialist, please call 707-463-7550. A virtual tour of the Family Birth Center is also available to watch at www.bit.ly/UVMCFBC .