It's all right to breastfeed in public spaces. That's the message Yorkton's Baby Friendly Initiative Working Group hopes to convey to residents through a new campaign launched in the city Tuesday.
The Baby Friendly Initiative Working Group consists of health workers in Sunrise Health Region and the Yorkton Tribal Council. The purpose of the group is to undertake projects that will increase awareness about breastfeeding and its many benefits for babies, mothers, families and communities.
According to evidence based research breastfeeding can minimize chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
In light of that fact, the local group has created life-sized cut-outs of mothers and their babies' breastfeeding; these cut-outs, , officially unveiled Tuesday, will be displayed in highly visible public areas in Yorkton and towns throughout the Sunrise Health Region as well as First Nation communities to encourage and promote acceptance of breastfeeding.
"Research has shown that one of the reasons moms will wean early is because they don't feel comfortable breastfeeding in public," says Carolee Zorn, Chair of the Baby Friendly Initiative.
"We hope through this project we can support breastfeeding mothers to feel more comfortable and supported to breastfeed their children wherever and whenever they need to."
In Canada, and in the Sunrise Health Region, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated the first week in October.
This year's theme is "Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers," highlighting support as a key factor for mothers breastfeeding.
In celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, the Baby Friendly Initiative Working Group is also issuing a "Quintessence Breast-feeding Chal-lenge." Every year, on the first Saturday of October at 11:00 a.m., mothers and children at sites across Canada and around the world compete to set the record for the most children breastfeeding at one time.
In Yorkton, the challenge is taking place October 5 at City Centre Park on Broadway Avenue. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m.
The winners of the competition include:
the site with the most children breastfeeding at one time;
the country with the most children breastfeeding at registered sites;
and in North America, the region (province or territory or state) with the most children participating as a percentage of the birth rate.
For more information visit the website www.babyfriendly.ca or call 306-786-0625.
