Image Credit: Contributed

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in Canada from October 1-8, 2015. This year’s theme is Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make it Work! The week calls for global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work.

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding, with the introduction of solid food, for two years or beyond.  Successfully combining work and breastfeeding makes it easier for women to return to work and breastfeed longer, which benefits babies, mothers and employers.  Whether a woman is working in a formal, non-formal or home setting, it is important she is empowered to breastfeed.

“Time, space and support are essential for encouraging breastfeeding at work.  Employers can support breastfeeding by providing a clean, comfortable and private space and allowing a flexible time schedule to accommodate breastfeeding, said Patty Hallam, Knowledge Coordinator with Interior Health. “Support from a team of helpers that includes family, friends, health-care providers, communities, as well as employers and co-workers can make all the difference in building a woman’s confidence and comfort with breastfeeding.”

Breastfeeding is natural but it is not always easy. Public health nurses are available at health centres across Interior Health to assist mothers and infants during the breastfeeding years and to ensure families have all the help they need to give babies the best start in life. Contact your local public health centre for more information.

Support is also a click away with Healthy Families BC’s Breastfeeding Buddy web-based app (https://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/articles/breastfeeding-buddy). This easy, fun and educational resource is designed to provide women and families with quick online access to key information about breastfeeding, support in their communities and answers to common questions. It also has fun, interactive tools to help families keep track of breastfeeding activities, diaper changes and sleep patterns.

Interior Health nurses, along with their community partners, will be hosting events to mark World Breastfeeding Week. The events aim to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and build support for breastfeeding in communities. All breastfeeding mothers and their supporters are encouraged to attend Breastfeeding Week events in their areas.

Interior Health is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and providing a wide range of quality health-care services to more than 742,000 people living across B.C.’s vast interior. For more information, visit www.interiorhealth.ca, follow us on Twitter @Interior_Health, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InteriorHealth.

Community Breastfeeding Week Events

Cranbrook: Breastfeeding Challenge
Annual Breastfeeding Challenge, baby-wearing fashion show, swag, goodies. Support families who choose to breastfeed by creating a flag.
Date: October 3
Time: 10:30 a.m. – noon / Latch on 11 a.m.
Location: Farmers’ Market - 10th Ave in Rotary Park
Contact: Pam Smith at 250-420-2207    

Grand Forks: Breastfeeding Challenge
Date: October 3
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Gyro Park – across from Overwaitea on Hwy #3. Rain location: Grand Forks Public Library Meeting Room, 7342 – 5th Street
Contact: Cynthia Garnett at 250-442-5355 (ext: 40223)

Golden: Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week at Baby Talk
Join us for refreshments and breastfeeding chat.
Date: October 14
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.         
Location:  Early Years Centre – 421 9th St. N (next to Whitetooth Bistro)
Contact:  Anne at 250-344-3035

Invermere: Latch on Challenge
Prizes and breastfeeding support
Date: October 3
Time: 10:30 a.m.  / Latch on 11 a.m.
Location: Pothole Park, 702 7th Avenue
Contact: Tyana at 250-342-2390

Kamloops: World Breastfeeding Week Celebration
Join us for refreshments, door prizes and guest speaker on this year’s theme: Breastfeeding and Work
Date: October 3
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m. / Latch on 11a.m.
Location: St Paul’s Cathedral, 360 Nicola St.
Contact: Joanne at 250-851-7362

Kelowna:  Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge
A family event with great prizes, a breastfeeding photo shoot and entertainment.
Date: October 3
Time: 9 a.m. -1p.m. / Latch on 11 a.m.     
Location: The green space next to the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market
Contact:  Linda at 250-868-7730

Rock Creek (also including Bridesville, Beaverdell, Midway, and Greenwood) Breastfeeding Challenge
Date: October 3
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. / Latch on 11a.m.
Location:  Strong Start Space at West Boundary Elementary School - 4035 S. Kettle Valley Road
Contact: Jacqueline Malkinson at 250 449 2887 or Cynthia Garnett at 250-442-5355 (Ext: 40223)

Salmon Arm: Breastfeeding Week Celebration
Join us for refreshments, door prizes.
Date: October 3
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  / Latch on 11 a.m.
Location: North Okanagan Regional Library, Salmon Arm Branch (Piccadilly Mall 285 1151-10th Ave SW)
Contact: Erin Taylor or Barb Henderson at 250-833-4101    

Vernon: World Breastfeeding Week celebration
Join us for refreshments at our annual Breastfeeding Cafe
Date: October 3, 2015
Time: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.         
Location:  Vernon Library - 2800-30th Ave
Contact: Danielle at 250 549-6332

News from © iNFOnews, 2015