The High River Hospital is the first in Alberta to achieve the Baby-Friendly Designation.

The honour is a joint initiative between the World health Organization and UNICEF to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Over the past two years the maternity team has worked hard to make this globally-recognized designation possible.

Gynecologist Karen Bailey says this goes along with the care they are providing for their families and focusing on their patients.

"For a tiny community hospital like High River to be the first recognized in Alberta with certification as Baby-friendy thats just amazing," said Bailey.

Maxine Scringer-Wilkes, Chairperson of Alberta Breast Feeding Committee and an RN, says the designation means a lot to the families that choose to give birth at this hospital.

'For families that choose to give birth to their babies at this wonderful hopsital, it means that their wishes will be respected, and it also means they will get evidence based best practices around the birth of their child," said Scringer-Wilkes

She adds it is a testament to the staff  to get everyone  on the staff working together to earn the designation.

Anna Tumoth project lead with the hospital, says they have been working on the project for 10 years, but they did a big push for the last two years to make it happen.

She says a small hospital can really focus on helping mothers achieve success.

"We are all inclusive of all mothers, no matter which way they choose to feed their babies," said Tumoth.

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