World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7, but Canada celebrates it October 1-7.
It is celebrated in October because it is the 10th month of the year and symbolizes the first week of a baby’s life (after nine months of pregnancy) when a baby begins to breastfeed.
The theme for 2017 is Sustaining Breastfeeding Together. This year is about about working together for the common good! We call on advocates and activists, decisionmakers, and celebrants to forge new and purposeful partnerships. Together, let’s attract political support, media attention, participation of young people and widen our pool of celebrants and supporters. Learn more about World Breastfeeding Week.
The Government of BC has proclaimed October 1-7, 2017 as Breastfeeding Week.
In August, women, families, and children gather around the world to laugh, chat, and build community one latch at time. Visit The Global Big Latch On for more information.
In October, the Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge celebrates breastfeeding and milk-banking and demonstrates promotion, protection, and support for breastfeeding women and their families. It’s a chance for education and peer support to be done in a fun social way.
The challenge is held the first Saturday in October of each year to see which geographic area (province, state, or territory) has the most breastfeeding babies, as a percentage of the birthrate, “latched on” at 11 am local time.
The 2017 challenge is on Saturday, September 30. Visit www.babyfriendly.ca for more information.
PSBC has three provincial Breastfeeding Guidelines for the healthy preterm infant, the healthy term infant, and multiple infants.
The Breastfeeding My Baby guide is a helpful tool that can be printed and posted in health care facilities to promote breastfeeding, or used with families for individual or group education.
The Breastfeeding Buddy is a web-based app that has tips, tools, and videos to help new mothers with breastfeeding and more, from pregnancy to baby's first six months and beyond. It provides parents with information and links to health resources in their community and helps them keep track of breastfeeding, baby's sleep schedules, diaper changes, and scheduling if mothers express breast milk or provide alternate feedings. It's an easy, fun, and educational tool designed to help parents give their baby the very best start in life.