NorthShore Regional Medical Center has been designated by the Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition as one of only 13 hospitals in Louisiana to be a certified Guided Infant Feeding Techniques hospital for protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. 

The GIFT designation is a certification program for Louisiana birthing facilities based on the best practice model to increase breastfeeding initiation, duration and support. 

Earning The GIFT certification requires a hospital to demonstrate that it meets the “10 Steps to a Healthy, Breastfed Baby” and the criteria for educating new parents and hospital staff on the techniques and importance of breastfeeding. NRMC believes in the importance of breastfeeding and improving Louisiana’s breastfeeding rates and offers the following programs and services to promote breastfeeding and assist new mothers and their babies:

• Offers free pre-natal breastfeeding classes. For more information or to register, call the Maternal Child Educator at 646-5632. 

• Employs board-certified lactation consultants certified by the International Lactation Consultant Association to assist new mothers and their newborns during their post-partum hospital stay.

• Offers monthly breastfeeding support groups for mothers and their babies that are free and open to the public. For more information, call the NorthShore Regional Medical Center at 1-888-NSRMC-4U.

• Offers free post-discharge phone consults or out-patient consults by appointment.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call NorthShore Regional Medical Center at 646-5632.

The Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition is an organization of members working together to achieve healthy outcomes for women and children. 

It initiates and supports policy development and implementation through lobbying and advocacy, educates policy leaders, creates and maintains alliances consistent with maternal and child health priorities, serves as a resource center and provides continuing education.

The GIFT is a joint effort between the Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition and the Louisiana Perinatal Commission and is supported by the Louisiana Office of Public Health-Maternal and Child Health Program.

NRMC is a 165-bed acute care hospital located on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in Slidell.

NorthShore is a full-service hospital that includes a 24-hour emergency room and the only PICU on the north shore.

The hospital specializes in cardiac care, neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, physical therapy, rehabilitation and sleep disorders.

NRMC is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which is the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

To learn more about NorthShore Regional Medical Center, visit www. northshoremedctr.com.