New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition

NJBFC is dedicated to promoting, protecting and supporting all families on their breastfeeding journey.

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Lactation Support in NJ Hospitals

NEW JERSEY HOSPITALS MUST SUPPORT LACTATING PARENTS AND INFANTS

State regulations now require all New Jersey hospitals to support breastfeeding patients and babies.  If a hospital does not do so, a patient may file a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Health (see “How to File a Complaint” below).  For a full copy of the lactation-related amendments from 2014 and 2017, DOWNLOAD HERE.

Maternity Unit Requirements

All hospitals in New Jersey with maternity units must develop and implement policies that support breastfeeding families. These policies must ensure the following.

Prenatal Patients

  • Evidence-based information about infant feeding must be provided to all patients at any preadmission contacts and at the time of hospital admission.
  • Topics of education must include successful breastfeeding management, health outcomes of both breastfeeding and formula feeding, and potential contraindications to breastfeeding.
  • All educational materials must be in languages spoken by at least 10 percent of the hospital community.
  • These printed educational materials must be free of commercial interest and may not contain advertisements from other companies.

During and After Childbirth in the Hospital:

Providing skin to skin to her newborn and nursing within the first hour of life.
Providing skin to skin to her newborn and nursing within the first hour of life.
  • Baby is to remain in physical contact with mother or a primary caregiver as the preferred source of body warmth for the first hour after the delivery, unless this is not medically possible or not desired by the mother.
  • All newborn assessments should take place while the newborn is with the mother unless contraindicated.
  • All mothers who wish to breastfeed must be offered support with positioning and latching during the first hour of the baby’s life.
  • Childbirth, breastfeeding and patient care support must be provided by skilled health care providers, it must be culturally sensitive and must be in a language understood by the mother.
  • A comprehensive feeding assessment, along with any necessary follow-up feeding assessments, must be completed by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or a staff member of the Obstetrical team who has demonstrated required core competencies in infant feeding practices.
  • Obstetrical staff must provide evidenced-based information and education about rooming in, delaying the use of a pacifier, and the identification of infant hunger cues.
  • Hand expression of breast milk and/or use of a breast pump must be taught and encouraged within four hours of a mother being separated from her infant(s) or of experiencing ineffective breastfeeding.
  • Patients must receive evidence-based information about medication use while breastfeeding, if medication is medically indicated. Mothers who wish to breastfeed must receive appropriate breastfeeding education upon discharge from the hospitals.
  • For mothers being discharged less than 48 hours after delivery, discharge planning should including home health services if needed.
  • Mothers should receive referrals for community support upon discharge, including breastfeeding support groups and other resources available (please see org for a list of breastfeeding support services available in your area).

Hospital obstetrical staff who provide breastfeeding care and consultations must be trained and proficient in the core competencies needed for initiation and maintenance of infant feeding.  According to the regulations, these core competencies must include, but are not limited to, those contained in “Implementing the Joint Commission Perinatal Care Core Measure on Exclusive Breastmilk Feeding” found here. The training content and printed teaching materials must be evidence-based and free of commercial interest.

In addition, hospitals must develop and implement a policy on formula company discharge bags, gifts and promotional materials and their impact of the distribution on exclusive breastfeeding. In other words, while the new amendments do not impose a ban on hospitals distributing formula company gift bags, they require hospitals to deal with the negative impact these giveaways have on breastfeeding.  Since formula gift bags have no positive effect on breastfeeding, these regulations effectively require hospitals to stop their distribution.

Emergency Department Requirements

The amended regulations require all hospitals to develop and implement practices that support breastfeeding mothers in their emergency departments.  These policies require emergency department staff to determine whether a woman who comes to the emergency department is breastfeeding and if so, to help her with expression, storage and use of her breastmilk.

Hospital-Wide Requirements

Hospitals must develop and implement practices supporting the needs of breastfeeding women and children at all points of hospital entry including registration in the emergency department, upon arrival for same-day surgery and admission to the hospital.

How to File a Complaint about a Hospital

Consumers who do not receive breastfeeding support and care as outlined above or employees who work at hospitals that do not provide the required care may report the hospital to the NJ Department of Health (NJDOH).  Information on how to file a complaint can be found here.  Complaints submitted by phone, fax or mail may be anonymous.  Complaints submitted online must include the name of the complainant, but that information will not be shared with the hospital.

The NJDOH must investigate all complaints received from the public.  If after investigation the NJDOH finds the hospital to be in violation of the regulations, the NJDOH may assess a penalty against the hospital or in very extreme cases, even revoke or suspend the hospital’s license.

If you need more information about the hospital regulations, please contact the New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition here.

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Search the Drug and Lactation Database (LactMed Database) for drugs and other chemicals breastfeeding mothers may be exposed to.

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Membership

Your membership will help protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in New Jersey. To join the Coalition, please complete our membership form online. We are a non-profit and flourish on donations. Donations are encouraged but not required for membership. All donations are tax deductible and acknowledgment letters for tax purposes are … Read More »

Get In Touch

If you are looking for breastfeeding help, please visit zipmilk.org for a list of … Read More »

Breastfeeding is Important

Breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant.

Medications and Breastfeeding

​Many breastfeeding women are wrongly advised to stop taking necessary medications or to discontinue nursing because of potential harmful effects on their infants. There are few medications that are “not safe” when breastfeeding. Ask your local lactation consultant then consult with your healthcare provider.

Getting Off to a Good Start

Getting off to a good start can help ensure your breastfeeding success. Find your local breastfeeding support services by visiting Zipmilk.org.

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  • Home
  • About Us
    ▼
    • Mission
    • Trustee Information
    • News
  • Meetings & Events
    ▼
    • Submit Events and Announcements
    • National Breastfeeding Month
    • Lactation Events and Announcements
    • General Meeting Minutes
    • Trustee Meeting Minutes
    • Black Maternal Health Week
  • Membership
    ▼
    • Committee Descriptions
  • Legal Rights
    ▲
    • Breastfeeding in Public
    • Breastfeeding and Employment
    • Lactation Laws & Regulations
    • NJ PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND TEMPORARY DISABILITY PROGRAMS
    • Lactation Support in NJ Hospitals
  • Resources
    ▼
    • Recent New Jersey Breastfeeding Statistics
    • For Parents
    • For Healthcare Providers
  • Projects
    ▼
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Lactation Equity Scholarship
  • Contact