In Canada, just over 91% of mothers initiate breastfeeding
but 1 in 7 stop before baby reaches one month of age.**
By working together, we can help families that initiate breastfeeding
overcome any challenges that prevent them from
meeting their breastfeeding goals!
**The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Canada’s Breastfeeding Progress Report 2022.
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network that protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding worldwide. Each year WABA selects a theme for World Breastfeeding Week and the 2023 theme is ENABLING BREASTFEEDING: Making a difference for working parents.
The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada has adapted the WABA theme to better fit the Canadian context.
Canada is fortunate to have a maternity and parental leave policy that is more generous in terms of duration, flexibility, and paid benefits than many other countries. We acknowledge that some families in Canada struggle to continue breastfeeding when they return to work. Actually, though, there are many different barriers to continued breastfeeding and work that can be done to protect, promote and support breastfeeding families!
GUEST SPEAKER SERIES
Join us for a week of virtual presentations and collaborative learning in honour of National Breastfeeding Week:
Registration required – attend at no cost!
All presentations are online, and run from 12PM to 1PM (EDT), plus time for Q&A’s
IBLCE CERPS awarded for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday sessions.
Monday October 2nd:
The cost of suboptimal breastfeeding in Ontario, Canada: A health system costing study
(Returning guest speaker, Dr. Sandra Hoy)
1.0 L CERPS allocated
Learn more about Dr. Hoy’s research and consider ways that the research findings can help inform breastfeeding advocacy efforts in Canada.
Tuesday October 3rd:
More milk sooner
(Naida Hawkins)
1.0 L CERPS allocated
Reflect on prenatal preparation for optimal milk production: leading practice and research to increase self-efficacy and confidence. Learn skills for health care professionals and parents.
Wednesday October 4th:
Relationship Focused Care
(Janine McClure, Teresa Johnson, Claire Gallant)
Learn the importance of relationship when implementing the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI). Explore how BFI practices support an infant’s mental health.
Thursday October 5th:
The Journey To BFI Designation – St.Pauls Hospital and Ft.McMurray Public Health
(KathiLee Volk, Andrea Firmani)
1.25 L CERPS allocated
Hear about the BFI journeys of a hospital and public health unit. A successful team approach can overcome challenges such as providing immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin with Caesarean births, implementing BFI practices during natural emergencies and providing outreach to isolated communities.
TOOLKIT
The theme for this year’s National Breastfeeding Week Toolkit is Enabling Breastfeeding: Working together to make a difference! We encourage you to explore the toolkit and see what you, your workplace, and your community can do to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Happy National Breastfeeding Week 2023!
Engagement
Join us in sharing your National Breastfeeding Week events, promotions, and activities!
Social Media:
Tag @bccbfi on Instagram and Twitter on your posts
Tag @breastfeedingcommitteeforcanada on Facebook
Tag @breastfeedingcommitteeforcanada on LinkedIn
Include a few of these suggested hashtags in your posts to attract a bigger audience:
| #NationalBreastfeedingWeek | #Breastfeeding | #BFI |
| #NBW2023 | #SupportBreastfeeding | #TenSteps |
| #WorkingTogether | #InfantFeeding | #BestPractice |
| #EnablingBreastfeeding | #HealthDollarSavings | #ImprovedMaternityCare |
| #MakingADifference | #BreastfeedingTargets |
