Every year, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in Canada during the first week of October. To mark this occasion, we are hosting a public breastfeeding challenge for all mothers on Saturday, October 11th. The aim is to set the world record for having the most mothers breastfeeding at the same time in the same place.
Breastfeeding is recognized internationally as the best method of feeding infants. It provides ideal nutrition and antibodies, which help protect infants’ immune systems and contributes to their optimal growth and development. Babies who have been breastfed have also shown to have higher IQs.
The challenge, which is part of a worldwide event led by Quintessence Foundation, supports the best nutrition option for babies and will operate under the Thanks Mom for Breastfeeding theme. Participating countries will include Canada and the US and for the first time, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bermuda and several countries in Europe.
“When a baby is breastfed, everyone benefits,” said Leslie Mills, infant, child and youth educator at Vancouver Coastal Health’s North Community Health Office. “Babies are at lower risk of a myriad of health problems including allergies, asthma, gastrointestinal infection, obesity, diabetes, leukemia and many more, while breastfeeding mothers experience a lower risk of breast and uterine cancer. In addition, families benefit from the low cost of breastfeeding, the environment benefits from reduced waste products and energy usage for the production of breast milk substitutes. The health care system benefits from the reduction in health care usage because babies are sick less often.”
Event details
When: October 11th from 10 am to noon, with the ‘official latch on’ at 11 am. Games and prizes will make the day a fun event for mothers, babies and their families.
Where: The friendly rivalry will be held in two different locations:
Trout Lake Community Centre, 3350 Victoria Drive, Vancouver
Lynn Valley Village (Community Meeting Room) , 1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
More information
For more information, visit www.babyfriendly.ca
Last year nearly 5,383 babies latched on, breastfeeding simultaneously at 230 sites across Canada and the US.
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