Tuesday, August 3, 2010

It Is World Breastfeeding Week!

*Taken From Good Golly Miss Holly! with permission.*

I know I am a few days late, but I've been busy!

Sunday marked the start of celebrations of World Breastfeeding Week. Can you believe this is the 19th year it has been celebrated? Fabulous stuff!

The concept of this year's celebration is “Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way”. The ideal is that every hospital around the world adopt and implement these simple steps to help out all new mamas. An ideal that is supported by bodies such WHO, UNICEF and breastfeeding authorities such as Australian Breastfeeding Association, La Leche League International and International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA).

"Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

3. Inform all pregnant mothers about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.

5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.

6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated.

7. Practice rooming-in - allow mothers and infants to remain together - 24 hours a day.

8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic."

And how wonderful would it be for all mamas to given this kind of support and information both before and after the birth of their babe?

WBW is abit more than just a celebration though, it's a great time to educate and inform as bloggers draw attention, local ABA/LLL told WBW-themed talks, as the media publicises tales of nursing far and wide. So then it also becomes another step forward in getting society comfy and more relaxed with the concept of breastfeeding, and that is such a positive thing in itself!

Want to get involved? Scope out your local ABA group and see what they have planned to this to celebrate, or even just share a breastfeeding photo/link, etc to show your support!

Tomorrow I will be posting a picture of me breastfeeding!

2 comments:

  1. Happy Breastfeeding week Mama!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you ma'am. Happy Breastfeeding week to you also!

    ReplyDelete