While the vast majority of Canadian moms choose to breastfeed, not every baby is enjoying the many benefits of this instinctive practice.
That’s why the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI), a local committee focused on the wellbeing of moms and newborns, is making breastfeeding education a central focus.
“Breast is best,” says BFI member Carol Hydamaka.
Hydamaka says that as far as she and many others are concerned, there is no longer any debate over whether breastfeeding is preferable to formula feeding.
To help get that message across, the all-volunteer BFI each year organizes a series of initiatives for moms, dads and babies.
There’s Before the Stork Comes, quarterly gatherings where moms- and dads-to-be discuss the benefits of breastfeeding and learn more about the practice.
Last year, BFI hosted a breastfeeding conference that featured Toronto physician Dr. Jack Newman, a strong proponent of breastfeeding.
BFI has donated breastfeeding books to the Flin Flon Public Library and just recently placed posters in a number of local businesses informing moms that they are welcome to breastfeed on the
premises.
Over the weekend, BFI again hosted the Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge at the library, with 10 women joining moms around the world in nursing their children.
Then on Monday, BFI members visited the Flin Flon General Hospital to present a gift basket to Bianca McCallum.
McCallum, a Pelican Narrows resident, was the first breastfeeding mom to give birth at the Flin Flon General Hospital in October, which is Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
Such efforts appear to be paying off as Hydamaka believes the Flin Flon area has an above-average breastfeeding rate.
Hydamaka, who is also an outreach worker for the Best Beginnings: Baby and Me parenting program, says moms she worked with 15 years ago weren’t always certain whether to breastfeed.
But today “it’s a no-brainer,” she says. “I think it’s just the information they’ve received and they realize it’s best for mom and baby.”
In 2011-12, 89 per cent of Canadian moms breastfed their babies, according to Statistics Canada.
Joining Hydamaka on the BFI committee are Kelli Blouin, Shelly Vancoughnett and Tracy Koivisto of Kids First North; Joanna Ledoux, Loida Agpalza and Rena Johnson of the Northern Health Region; Marian Paul of the Norman Parent Child Coalition; and community members Alex Etienne and Sara Jayne.
More members are welcome to join BFI, which usually meets once a month. Anyone interested may contact the Primary Health Care Centre at
204-687-1350.
