momstown is proud to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7 and continues to be a source of support for moms and babies in communities across Canada.
August 1 marks the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated every year from August 1 to August 7 in more than 170 countries. Its goal: to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies. The week commemorates a declaration made by World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF policymakers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. It's a reminder to all of us moms of the support out there for those choosing to breastfeed. momstown is proud to count ourselves among the resources that new moms have when needing help with breastfeeding in the early days.
“Breastfeeding support: close to mothers” is the theme of the 2013 World Breastfeeding Week, which urges more support from governments and society for breastfeeding mothers.
But only one in three babies are exclusively breastfed for six months, the period recommended by the WHO. The WHO says breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need, and they recommend exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious foods for up to two years or beyond.
Exclusive breastfeeding to six months and breastfeeding up to two years and beyond protects children from infections and offers numerous life-long health benefits, the WHO said in its statement on 2013’s World Breastfeeding Week.
People who were breastfed as babies are less likely to be overweight or obese later in life, they may have a reduced risk of diabetes and perform better in intelligence tests, the WHO said.
Its goal is to see half of babies world-wide breastfed by 2025 — that number now stands at 38 per cent. But to be successful breastfeeding mothers need support.
Here's what momstown moms have to say about their breastfeeding experiences and tips;
It's great to know someone who has gone through the early days of leaky boobs and breast pads, or hear how another mom survived nursing a biter.
When time comes to wean – it can be agonizing for some, or no big deal for others – but it sure helps to have a resource to turn to or a shoulder to lean on.
Maybe you need to figure out what breast pump to use or whether to pump at all… who better to share their experiences than fellow moms who have been there?
Check out events in your community to see if there are ways you can support new moms or gain access to resources that you might need yourself.
