World Breastfeeding Week Canada is October 1 - 7, 2012 and Sunrise Health Region has activities planned throughout the week to celebrate breastfeeding and to promote the theme of "Understanding the Past, Planning the Future."
This year's events are coordinated by the Baby Friendly Committee a group comprised of members from several health service departments in the Sunrise Health Region, the Yorkton Tribal Council, Kids First, and interested individuals from the community.
The committee is encouraging as many nursing mothers as possible to meet for the Quintessence Nursing Challenge (www.babyfriendly.ca) on September 29, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Yorkton Public Library. The Quintessence Nursing Challenge is a worldwide challenge to gather the largest number of mothers to breastfeed simultaneously in a set geographical area. Last year was the first time the event was organized in Yorkton and the local group contributed to Saskatchewan placing third world wide out of provinces, territories, states or countries with similar birth rates per year.
"All breastfeeding mothers in the region are welcome to attend this year's event" says Lactation Consultant, Heidi Russell.
"The Committee will have gifts for all participants along with many great door prizes."
The Baby Friendly Initiative Committee in partnership with the Yorkton Colony Quilters Guild will hand out baby slings to all moms delivering on the obstetrics ward at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre during World Breastfeeding Week.
"We certainly appreciate the ongoing support of the Yorkton Colony Quilters Guild," adds Russell. "The families that receive the baby slings are very happy to accept this generous gift."
The Breastfeeding Matters Support Group, a joint venture started by the Early Visiting Program in Public Health and Lactation Services in Primary Health, will formally launch on October 3, 2012 at 10:30 am at the Yorkton Public Library. The topic will be "Baby Wearing" which will demonstrate the use of ring slings. The group has been meeting for just over a year, and now has a permanent home with the Yorkton Public Library.
"Sunrise Health Region is happy to have this partnership with the Yorkton Public Library, and is pleased that the library is providing space for the support group to meet," said Russell. "The support group is for moms and is run by moms, with a health care professional present to facilitate as necessary."
The Breastfeeding Matters Support Group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month. It is open to all women interested in promoting and encouraging breastfeeding by sharing stories and experience, and by connecting with other breastfeeding moms. Visit: www.SunriseHealthRegion.sk.ca
