The Upper Grand Family Health Team is hosting a “Breastfeeding Café” every Friday from 1:30 to 3:30pm at its office on Tower Street here.
All moms, babies and pregnant women are welcome to come in for peer-to-peer support, information, growth monitoring and other resources – but bring your own pillow.
In November 2013 the health team started the Breastfeeding Café as a pilot project to provide additional support to mothers who choose to breast feed in Centre Wellington.
Colostrum, the yellowish, sticky milk produced at the end of pregnancy, is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the perfect food for newborns and feeding should be initiated within the first hour after birth.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to six months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.
The Canadian Community Health Survey (2009-10) demonstrates that 88 per cent of Ontario women breastfeed or tried to breastfeed their last child. Only 26% of Ontario mothers met the recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
Local data from the BORN database at Grove Memorial Community Hospital shows that 86% of the babies born in 2012 were breastfeeding upon discharge.
The CCHS shows that this drops steadily until the six month mark.
Officials say the “café” offers support, information, resources and growth monitoring in a friendly atmosphere. Pregnant women who plan to breastfeed are also encouraged to ask questions and receive information that may help them achieve success in breastfeeding their baby.
