Cocoa Beach, FL (August 15th, 2000)--Cape Canaveral Hospital has been designated as a UNICEF "Baby-Friendly Hospital" and birth facility. CCH is the only hospital in the Southeast Region of the United States, and the 25th hospital in the US to ever receive this certification.

The Baby-Friendly USA Hospital Initiative is a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. The program's purpose is to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for mothers who choose to breastfeed their babies. Based on the ten steps to "Successful Breastfeeding," this international award recognizes birth facilities that offer new mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate breastfeeding for their babies.

According to Baby-Friendly USA spokesperson, Cynthia Turner-Maffei, "CCH has been recognized as a leader by Baby-Friendly USA, primarily for declaring its commitment to the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding."

The Women's Care Unit at CCH features private rooms specifically designed for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care. The birth of every baby born at CCH is greeted with a brief version of Brahm's Lullaby played throughout the hospital.

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