Excellence in maternity care is being spotlighted at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas.

The Port Arthur hospital recently earned the Texas Ten Step Program facility designation from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which recognized the local advancements being enjoyed by community members.

In honor of this accomplishment, the hospital is hosting a celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Women’s Services Unit.

Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Sarah Humme the dedicated staff worked hard to earn the Texas Ten Step designation.

“We are committed to putting the health and well-being of our newest Texans at the forefront of our care and support the growing number of women in our state who are choosing to breastfeed,” Humme said.

The Medical Center of Southeast Texas joins a growing number of birth facilities helping create a culture of breastfeeding support for new mothers and families.

Notable improvements include:

• Established monthly breastfeeding support groups, including the only Spanish speaking breastfeeding class in Southeast Texas.
• Established a M.O.M.S. (Moms Offering Moms Support) Group
• Staffed by International Board-certified lactation consultants, certified breastfeeding counselors and certified lactation counselors.
• Implemented system-wide breastfeeding policies that focus on helping mothers maintain exclusive breastfeeding.

For more information on the Texas Ten Step program, visit texastenstep.org.