Mother-Friendly Hospital Policy
1. Every expectant mother has the natural right to receive safe, effective, and healthy
prenatal monitoring and childbirth services.
2. The services provided should include pre-pregnancy counseling, prenatal and
postnatal care, and counseling.
3. The environments where education, outpatient counseling, and delivery services are
provided in our hospital should be prepared in accordance with standards.
4. Expectations regarding privacy should be met with care, and high standards of hygiene
and comfort should be ensured.
5. Interventions that are not evidence-based should not be performed routinely.
6. Human resources and logistical support necessary for service delivery should be
provided at an optimal level.
7. Referral criteria must be followed in emergency obstetric situations.
8. Delivery services should be centered around the mother and the baby.
9. Activities aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of service providers should be
planned and implemented.
10. Statistical analyses should be conducted, and outcomes should be evaluated.
General Principles of Our Hospital in the Scope of
Mother-Friendly Hospital Rules
As Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, our primary goal is to increase the quality and
accessibility of maternal health services to ensure that expectant mothers can access safe and
high-quality delivery services.
Normalcy of labor, safe and quality prenatal monitoring
Empowerment, prenatal and postnatal care and counseling
Autonomy
Non-maleficence and adherence to emergency referral criteria
Responsibility and mother-baby centered care
Continuous logistical support and uninterrupted services for all mothers
Respect for privacy
Monitoring and dissemination of statistics, ensuring all service areas meet required
standards
Avoidance of non-evidence-based practices
Promotion of successful breastfeeding
Enhancing mothers’ knowledge and skills
Mother-Friendly Hospital Program
Purpose of the Program:
To improve the quality and accessibility of maternal health services, ensuring that expectant
mothers have access to safe and quality childbirth services.
The model emphasizes creating private, single-person “Birth Units” based on respect for
privacy. The goals are to encourage normal birth and reduce unnecessary interventions.
Pregnant women should feel comfortable, as if in their own home, with freedom of movement
and the presence of a companion of their choice.
Published Mother-Friendly Hospital Criteria:
1. Every expectant mother has the right to receive safe and quality prenatal monitoring
and delivery services.
Care should respect the mother's culture and traditions, and prioritize her privacy and
autonomy.
Monitoring of pregnant and postpartum women should follow written protocols based
on current scientific guidelines.
2. Services should include pre-pregnancy counseling, prenatal and postnatal care, and
counseling.
Women should participate in birth planning.
They and their families should be informed about birth options and their risks/benefits.
Educational materials (written, visual, models) should be available.
Informed consent must be read and signed during care.
3. Facilities offering outpatient, educational, counseling, and delivery services must meet
standards.
Institutions should provide 24/7 services with units tailored to maternal and neonatal
needs.
Birth units should be nationally certified and responsible for care quality.
Sufficient, skilled staff should provide one-to-one care.
Safety measures should be taken for blood transfusions and infection control.
4. Privacy must be carefully protected; hygiene and comfort standards should be high.
Mothers should be allowed a companion of their choice.
Physical and emotional support must be readily available.
No restriction on labor positions; women should move freely.
Pushing in active positions should be encouraged.
5. Non-evidence-based interventions should not be routinely applied.
Food and fluid intake should not be restricted.
Procedures such as enemas or shaving should not be routine.
Early amniotomy, frequent vaginal exams, and catheter use should be avoided.
Cesarean rates should stay within acceptable limits.
6. Human resources and logistical support should be provided at optimal levels.
Services should be delivered by a multidisciplinary team.
An action plan should be in place for high-risk pregnancies.
Labor analgesia should be available upon request.
7. Emergency obstetric referral criteria should be followed.
Continuity must be ensured across all stages of care.
Patients with complications must be admitted and treated immediately.
Stabilized patients should be referred via emergency services (112).
Receiving institutions must provide feedback to referring institutions.
8. Childbirth services should be mother- and baby-centered.
Baby-Friendly Hospital principles should be upheld.
Immediate skin-to-skin contact and bonding should be encouraged.
Mothers should stay at least 24 hours after vaginal birth, and 48 hours after cesarean
birth for postpartum care.
9. Training activities should be planned and implemented to improve provider skills.
In-service training must be ongoing.
Monitoring and evaluation of national care guidelines should be conducted.
Clinical protocols and flowcharts should be visible in relevant units.
Staff must be informed and adopt the program principles.
Access to reference materials must be available 24/7.
10. Statistical analysis should be conducted, and results evaluated.
Records on service quality should be kept electronically, regularly, and accurately.
Statistical data should be publicly accessible online.
Maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity must be monitored through regular
feedback meetings.
The program is carried out in cooperation with the General Directorate of Health Services
and the Turkish Public Hospitals Institution. Hospitals meeting the criteria will be awarded
the title of Mother-Friendly Hospital.