NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Re-Designated as “Baby-Friendly” for Continued Excellence in Maternal and Infant Care
Lincoln Hospital was the first hospital in the Bronx to achieve the Baby-Friendly designation.
Sep 29, 2026
Bronx, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln today announced that it has officially achieved its Baby-Friendly re-designation, reaffirming its decade-long position as a leader in maternal and infant healthcare in the South Bronx. This prestigious global accreditation, bestowed by Baby-Friendly USA, recognizes hospitals that uphold the highest standards for supporting breastfeeding mothers, infant nutrition, and parent-child bonding.
First recognized in 2015 as the very first hospital in the Bronx to earn this honor, Lincoln Hospital continues to set the benchmark for equitable, patient-centered care. The Baby-Friendly initiative, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, requires facilities to complete a rigorous review process and adhere to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
“This designation is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination across our organization, all with a goal of helping families get off to a good start,” said Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FABC, DHL, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. “As the first Baby-Friendly hospital in the Bronx, Lincoln Hospital has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns. We are immensely proud of our dedicated maternity, pediatric, and nursing teams who work every day to ensure newborns get the healthiest possible start in life.”
Breastfeeding has been shown to offer significant clinical advantages, reducing the risk of ear and respiratory infections, diabetes, and obesity in infants, while lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancers for mothers. To support these health outcomes, Lincoln Hospital provides comprehensive care including guidance on breastfeeding positions, lactation maintenance, and specialized post-discharge support. Lincoln Hospital joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 438 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.
“We are extremely gratified to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process,” said Debra Taubel, MD, Chair, Women’s Health Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. “We are proud to offer an environment that supports best practices shown to increase breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility who chooses to breastfeed is given the resources, information and support needed to have the best chance for success.”
Lincoln Hospital averages over 1,500 deliveries annually, tailoring its clinical services to the complex social determinants of health within the South Bronx community. This latest accolade builds on the hospital’s growing list of maternal care achievements, which includes repeated recognition from U.S. News & World Report for its top-performing maternity services.
For more information about the maternal health services available at the hospital, please visit the NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Maternity Care page.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Natasha Burke, 929-837-9166; burken@nychhc.org
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, located in the South Bronx, is a 362-bed, Acute Care Level 1 Trauma Center and sees more than 168,000 emergency room visits and more than 600,000 outpatient visits annually. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Breast Imaging; Designated Stroke Center, Diabetes Center and HIV/AIDS Center. Lincoln Hospital was the first Baby-Friendly designated hospital in the Bronx, providing clinical services and consultations for over 1,500 deliveries per year. The hospital emphasizes primary care and specialty medicine, using the latest advances in medical science. Lincoln is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the nation. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/lincoln or follow us on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/LincolnHospBX and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LincolnHosp.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Baby-Friendly USA
As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the US. Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.