Breastfeeding Week

Breastfeeding Week

Canterbury District Health Board is congratulating organisers of the “Big Latch On” taking place in Christchurch on Friday 7 August to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.

At 10.30am babies of mothers taking part will be latched on for a breastfeed. Last year the New Zealand event recorded 1122 women breastfeeding simultaneously. It is anticipated that even more mothers will break the record this year which has been broken annually since 2005.

The main venue for the event in Christchurch, hosted by the Canterbury Breastfeeding Network, is St Stephens Church hall on the corner of Emmett Street and Shirley Road.

Canterbury DHB Director of Midwifery Sam Burke says breastfeeding is the best start in life for babies and impacts positively on mothers. “As health professionals we are committed to providing education and support for women and whānau/families to ensure a healthy start.” “CDHB maternity hospitals continue to meet the national standards for breastfeeding under the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).”

The Ministry of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding of infants for at least six months and then alongside other foods for up to two years of age.

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action develops a new theme for World Breastfeeding Week each year and the 2009 theme is "Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response". This is to draw attention to the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergencies.

Young children are the most vulnerable in emergencies but women can be assured that even in an emergency, when the electricity is cut off and clean water is unavailable or contaminated, breastfeeding is totally safe and they can feed their baby at any time.

ENDS

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