As World Breastfeeding Week approaches, it’s important to recognize and promote the benefits of breastfeeding while understanding the challenges faced by working parents. This year’s theme, “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents,” emphasizes the need for support for breastfeeding, particularly in the workplace.
City Health Promotes Exclusive Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for a child’s overall development, and City Health has been promoting exclusive breastfeeding as part of the provincial breastfeeding restoration plan. The goal is to have at least 50% of mothers breastfeeding their babies.
Infant Feeding Counselors Educate New Mothers
To increase awareness and education about breastfeeding, City Health has employed a group of Infant Feeding Counselors (IFCs) since 2021. These IFCs engage with new mothers visiting clinics, informing them about the benefits and practicalities of exclusive breastfeeding.
Success Story: Phumlani Clinic
The success story of Phumlani Clinic in Mitchell’s Plain demonstrates the power of ongoing education, awareness drives, and support for mothers. The IFC facilitated 176 breastfeeding education sessions between August 2022 and mid-June 2023, engaging with 2,548 postnatal clients. As a result, the facility’s exclusive breastfeeding rate nearly doubled from 35% to 69%.
Supporting Breastfeeding in the Workplace
One significant challenge faced by breastfeeding mothers is the lack of support in their workplace. Many mothers transition to formula feeding after maternity leave, as they are unable to express or store breast milk during the workday.
City Health Conducts Outreach Program
In response to this issue, City Health conducted an outreach program at In2Food in Strand on August 1, addressing the benefits of breastfeeding, policies around breastfeeding in the workplace, and how workplaces can become breastfeeding-friendly spaces.
Creating Enabling Spaces for Breastfeeding Mothers
Councillor Van der Ross encouraged employers to evaluate their existing facilities and consider creating enabling spaces for breastfeeding mothers. The City has taken steps towards this goal, launching its first Mother’s Lounge earlier this year.
Breastfeeding provides numerous long-term health and developmental benefits for children, and supporting mothers in healthcare facilities and workplaces is crucial to achieving higher breastfeeding rates and ensuring the well-being of future generations. Stakeholders, including healthcare providers and employers, must work together to create an environment where breastfeeding is encouraged and supported.
