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Breastfeeding Supports

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Breastfeeding Buddies Program

The Breastfeeding Buddies Program has grown out of the initiative of breastfeeding moms. We recognize the importance and need for mom-to-mom support to promote successful breastfeeding.

The program goal is to increase opportunities for moms, their infants and young children to have access to breastfeeding support in Waterloo Region.

The program intention is to:

• Promote and engage more moms to breastfeed.
• Increase the length of time moms choose to breastfeed their children.
• Provide moms with the support and information they need to establish and maintain a positive breastfeeding experience.

Breastfeeding Buddies

A "Breastfeeding Buddy" is a caring, committed and trained volunteer who has breastfed. Buddies provide one-to-one and group support for breastfeeding moms and help connect them with community supports and resources. They:

• Understand and listen
• Provide encouragement
• Respond to questions / concerns
• Share experiences

Contact Information

PLEASE NOTE: Breastfeeding Buddies are volunteers and can sometimes be unavailable. Please call Breastfeeding Buddies 519-772-1016 if you need to confirm a Buddy will be at a site or to have a mom connect with a Buddy by phone.

Did you know that...

• Research shows breastfeeding decreases the risk of many health problems for infants and mothers.
• Breastfeeding is free and environmentally friendly.
• Research from over 20 studies has shown that well trained peers can increase the initiation and length of time mothers breastfeed.

For more information about the Breastfeeding Buddies Program, please contact: Sherry Rosa, Breastfeeding Buddies Volunteer Coordinator 519-772-1016 at the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre 

Breastfeeding Buddies Pamphlet
Breastfeeding Support in Waterloo Region

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Baby Friendly Initiative

The Baby-Friendly^TM Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global campaign launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

In Canada, the BFHI is known as the Baby-Friendly^TM Initiative (BFI) and includes hospitals as well as community health services. The campaign includes all babies regardless of how they are fed.

The idea of breastfeeding anytime, anywhere is to be considered normal and be valued in Waterloo Region.

The BFI's job is to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in our community.

The Baby Friendly Initiative Supports

• The 10 steps (see below) to successful breastfeeding.
• The 7 point (see below) plan for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding in community health care settings.
• Informed decision-making about infant feeding.

The objective in Waterloo Region is to:

• Increase the number of women who:
  • Start breastfeeding.
  • Feed only breast milk for the first six months (no formula or solid foods).
  • Continue to breastfeed for two years and beyond.
• Increase the number of mothers who feel welcome to breastfeed anytime, anywhere in Waterloo Region.
• Work with all areas of our community, including residents, local government, community and business organizations, health care providers and health care organizations.
• Develop and adopt a Region-wide breastfeeding policy that matches the Baby-Friendly^TM Initiative.
• Be an information resource about the BFI for groups, organizations and agencies developing their own breastfeeding policy.
• Increase awareness and understanding of the positive environmental impact of breastfeeding.
• Carry out the Seven Point Plan for the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding in Community Health Services and support the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding of the Baby-Friendly^TM Hospital Initiative (BFHI).

The 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding

A Joint WHO/UNICEF Statement, Geneva, Switzerland, 1989 says every facility or agency providing maternity services and care of newborn infants should:

• Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
• Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
• Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
• Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
• Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
• Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
• Practice rooming-in - allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
• Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
• Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
• Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

The 7 Point Plan for the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding In Community Health Care Settings

All providers of community health care should:

• Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
• Train all staff involved in the care of mothers and babies in the skills necessary to implement the policy.
• Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
• Support mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding.
• Encourage exclusive and continued breastfeeding, with appropriately-timed introduction of complementary foods.
• Provide a welcoming atmosphere for breastfeeding families.
• Promote co-operation between healthcare staff, breastfeeding support groups and the local community.

If you are interested in participating in the Baby-Friendly^TM Initiative and would like more information, contact the Region of Waterloo Baby-Friendly Initiative Committee at 519-883-2002 ext. 6151