Finding innovative ways to keep patients healthy, happy, and ready, Naval Hospital Jacksonville staff provide world-class health care, from battlefield to bedside. Here at home, that bedside care includes the maternity experience for moms and babies.

The Florida Surgeon General has cited NH Jacksonville as a "leader for innovation on the First Coast" for its Baby Friendly status. NH Jacksonville earned Baby Friendly designation in 2011, becoming the first hospital on Florida's First Coast and the third U.S. military treatment facility to do so.

Baby Friendly certification is granted by Baby-Friendly USA, part of a global initiative of the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund. It's awarded to hospitals that meet and maintain high standards to support optimal infant feeding and mother-baby bonding.

"Baby Friendly helps patients achieve the best health outcomes," said Capt. David Collins, NH Jacksonville commanding officer. "We owe thanks to our dedicated maternity nurses, lactation nurses, and physicians for developing innovations like nitrous oxide pain relief, skin-to-skin care, family-friendly ORs (operating rooms) for C-sections, as well as our Baby Friendly recognition. Naval Hospital Jacksonville remains on the cutting edge of mother-baby care in Navy Medicine."

Nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas, is available to moms as a pain management option during labor. Moms can self-administer nitrous oxide with a face mask. It has no adverse effects on baby or mom, and mom remains awake and alert, retaining complete motor and sensory function. Moms can also stop using it and try another pain relief method.

The hospital's operating suites are now family-friendly for moms who deliver by C-section. This includes the option of see-through draping. This enables moms to see a baby's first breath and first cry, without compromising the sterile environment needed for surgery.

Immediately after delivery, whether natural or C-section, the nurse presents the baby directly to mom for "skin to skin" care, as long as mom and baby's medical conditions permit it. Skin to skin care makes for a happier and more medically stable baby, and also enables early breastfeeding.

"During my C-section, I was able to experience the see-through drapes and got to see and hold my baby right when he came out. This was my third child, and by far the best birth experience, thanks to Naval Hospital Jacksonville," said Kayla Wright, who gave birth here April 20.

NH Jacksonville's maternity experience also includes free classes; private suites with couplet care, mom and baby room together; "siesta for the fiesta," daily quiet time to support feeding; breastfeeding counseling from lactation nurses; breast pumps; an educational "newborn channel" on television; and a state-of-the-art infant security system.

To register for free classes such as baby boot camp, new parent orientation, Hypnobirthing®, infant massage, breastfeeding, and prepared childbirth, call 904-542-BABY (2229). To sign up for The Parent Review free newsletter, visit NH Jacksonville's website.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. Of its patient population -- 163,000 active-duty and retired Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Guardsmen, and their families -- almost 85,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

To find out more or download the command's mobile app, visit http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax/.

For more news from Naval Hospital Jacksonville, visit http://www.navy.mil/.