Baby group supports new moms

The Baby Friendly Initiative Working Group is initiating a new project to support mothers choosing to breastfeed their babies.

The project will feature life-size cut-outs of mother's breastfeeding their babies. The cut-outs will be created from photos mounted on cardboard and will be displayed in highly visible public areas in communities throughout the health region and First Nations communities covered by the Yorkton Tribal Council. The goal of this project is to encourage and promote the acceptance of breastfeeding in public.

Heidi Russell, a member of the working group and with lactation services with the Sunrise Health Region said the new project is designed to build awareness and give support to mother's who wish to 'breast feed in public."

"We want to normalize breastfeeding in public," she said. "We want the moms to feel comfortable breastfeeding."

The idea of using life-size cut-outs is one being borrowed from a similar initiative undertaken in California.

"We just want to put the images out there so people become comfortable with them," she said.

The Baby Friendly Initiative Working Group consists of health care workers in the Sunrise Health Region and The Yorkton Tribal Council who have come together to support, promote and protect breastfeeding families.

Breastfeeding mothers who would like to take part in this project by having their picture taken while breastfeeding are invited to phone Lactation Services at 786-0886. Details of the project and a consent form will be sent to all interested parties.

The project is the second for the group which earlier undertook the Skin 2 Skin campaign with posters and billboards showing parents with their infants on their bare chests.

Russell said the idea of Skin 2 Skin contact, sometimes referred to as Kangaroo Care, is good for the infant as it warms the body, helps with the concept of breastfeeding, and helps regulate breathing and heart rates.