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Make Breastfeeding Your Business: Everybody benefits!

Make Breastfeeding Your Business: Everybody benefits!. Adapted with permission from the Lunenburg & Queens Baby Friendly Initiative™ Committee. Why talk about Breastfeeding?. Health Canada recommends babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months and up to 2 years and beyond.

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Make Breastfeeding Your Business: Everybody benefits!

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  1. Make Breastfeeding Your Business: Everybody benefits! Adapted with permission from the Lunenburg & Queens Baby Friendly Initiative™ Committee

  2. Why talk about Breastfeeding? • Health Canada recommends babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months and up to 2 years and beyond. • The Nova Scotia Human Rights Act supports women to breastfeed “wherever, whenever” • Provincial Breastfeeding Policy (2005) • Breastfeeding committees exist province wide • The South West Health Baby Friendly Initiative™ Committee provides breastfeeding leadership locally

  3. Mothers Voices Experiences Survey 2006 - 2007

  4. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/nutrition/commun/prenatal/initiation-eng.phpwww.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/nutrition/commun/prenatal/initiation-eng.php

  5. Why breastfeeding matters to families: • Health benefits for mothers and babies Mothers- decreases risk of some chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis, ovarian and breast cancer Babies- decreases risk of infections, asthma, diabetes, and childhood obesity • Enhances mother-child relationships • Promotes optimal infant growth and development

  6. Why breastfeeding matters to our community: Environmentally friendly and supports sustainability Reduces food costs for families Reduces health care costs Promotes social equity All of these benefits resonate into the community and improves quality of life and well being of community members

  7. Supporting breastfeeding creates healthier communities and sends a message that breastfeeding is valued, thus the health and future of our children and our community members matter.

  8. What is the Baby Friendly Initiative? • Developed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1991 • Aims to improve the quality of breastfeeding outcomes for mothers, babies, and families • Through the implementation of evidence based best practices standards to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding • WHO International Code of Marking Breast milk Substitutes

  9. The South West Health Baby Friendly Initiative™ Committee supports our community through: • Friendly Feeding Peer Support Line • Make Breastfeeding Your Business: An Action Support Kit and presentation • Provide support to create supportive environments • Partnerships and linkages (Parent’s Place, Town of Yarmouth, La Leche League) • Celebration and recognition: World Breastfeeding Week

  10. What kind of barriers do breastfeeding families face in the community? Bottle feeding culture Lack of breastfeeding knowledge Uncomfortable feeding baby in public Lack of community support Returning to work

  11. Yarmouth County community members have identified a need for Baby-friendly spaces and places within our communities where they can freely bring their children and know they can feed them as needed.

  12. “Baby-Friendly”…Whose Business is it anyway? EVERYONES! And it can start within our own community • Developing supportive work environments and “Baby-Friendly” spaces within our communities reduces barriers • May help influence a woman’s decision to begin or continue breastfeeding her baby • Help create a culture within our communities where breastfeeding women feel supported and accepted wherever they go.

  13. How can local businesses and organizations support our community?Making Breastfeeding Your Business Action Binder Endorse breastfeeding policy for employees returning to work Endorse breastfeeding policy to support community members accessing programs and services Create accessible “Baby-friendly” spaces Educate employees how to provide support for a co-worker or community member Educate employees how to address concerns raised by individuals in regards to a mother who is breastfeeding

  14. Win-win situation: Businesses that support breastfeeding families can… Have employees who: Have a positive influence as to whether and when a mother returns to work Improve employee productivity, satisfaction, loyalty & morale Enhance recruitment and retention Reduce parent absenteeism due to a sick child as breastfeeding helps infants fight infections

  15. Win-win situation: Businesses that support breastfeeding families can… Have community members who: • Have a positive experience while at your business or event • Feel supported to Breastfeed “anytime, anywhere” and are aware of “Baby-Friendly” spaces if needed/available • Are able to experience the benefits of breastfeeding • Share their experiences with their families and friends

  16. Leading the way… Community organizations that are already working towards “Making Breastfeeding Their Business”: • Town of Yarmouth • Local Businesses (Lawtons, Shoppers, Pharmasave, City Drug) • Local organizations (South West Health, Parent’s Place)

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