World Breastfeeding Week 2010

Breastfeeding creates a special bond between mother and child during the early months of a child’s life and provides many health benefits.

World Breastfeeding Week seeks to celebrate this and raise international awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby

Waikato DHB and the Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) programme actively promote exclusive breastfeeding of infants for at least six months in order to give their child the very best start to life.

Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in baby’s later life. They will also get fewer ear infections and allergies.

Breastfeeding is completely natural and normal, but it can be challenging, and it needs to be learned. Babies don’t necessarily know what to do either.

The theme for this year’s awareness week is:
Breastfeeding - Just 10 Steps

This theme hopes to draw attention to the important role that clinicians and health professionals play in helping new mothers to successfully breastfeed.

WHO and UNICEF developed 10 steps to successful for all hospitals and maternity units to follow, these are:

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 women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one half-hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and 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 - that is, 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.

This year’s theme aims to raise awareness of these steps to health professionals.

Studies have shown that with more of the 10 steps in place, the more likely women are to achieve their breastfeeding goals.

Breastfeeding in the Waikato

 

Free bibs for new mums

All new mothers who give birth at one the following birthing facilities during World Breastfeeding Week will receive a free bib with supportive breastfeeding information:

• Waikato Hospital
• Thames Maternity
• Matariki Maternity
• Te Kuiti Maternity
• Tokoroa Maternity
• Rhoda Read Maternity
• Taumarunui Maternity
• Huntly birthcare
• Pohlen Hospital
• Waihi Hospital
• Waterford Birth Centre
• River Ridge East Birth Centre

The bibs are a way of encouraging mothers to breastfeed their new infant and supporting information will explain why this is an important way to start their child’s life.

The Big Latch On 2009

Friday 6 August, 10.30am

Now in its sixth year, this annual event attempts to have the most women breastfeeding simultaneously. Various Waikato health agencies have organised “Latch Ons” as part of this.

Hamilton Central Plunket Rooms 12 Richmond Street 07 8566499 kim.duggan@gmail.com	Miro o Te Ora, Hauora 180 Dey Street, Hamilton East 078561306	Waterford Birth Centre 27 Tisdall Terrace , Hamilton 07 839 0281 cm@waterfordbc.co.nz
Kaute Pasifika Hall 517 Anglesea Street, Hamilton 07 8341482 koratika@kautepasifika.org.nz	Waikato Hospital Newborn Intensive Care Unit Ward 52	Churchill's Cafe Ohaupo Rd Corner, Te Awamutu 07 870 3020
Otorohanga Parents centre Kakamutu Rd	Morrinsville Council Cafe and Bar 50 Canada St, Morrinsville	Tokoroa Hospital Library Maratei Rd, Tokoroa
Whitianga St Andrews Church - Albert St	Katikati Robert Harris Café , Main Rd	Thames Hospital

Visit the Women’s Health website for more information about these locations.