Becoming a Breastfeeding Friendly Community Centre

Building a Breastfeeding Friendly

Community Initiative

Meggie Ross, PHNPenticton Health CentrePauline Clark & Janette KendlerUBC-O 4th year Nursing students

Sponsored by:

Outline

- Breastfeeding recommendations

- Why breastfeeding is important

- Community support

- Breastfeeding and pools

- Role play

Recommendations

• World Health Organization• Health Canada• Canadian Paediatric Society

- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life for healthy term infants;

- Continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond

Why is Breastfeeding Important?

• It is how babies were meant to be fed!

• Healthier for baby

• Healthier for Mom

• Saves money for the family and health care system

• Better for the environment

Image: Okanagan Breastfeeding Coalition

Risks of Formula feedingFor Baby, increased…• Diarrhea, haemophilus influenza, decreased

vaccine response, Necrotizing enterocolitis, otitis media, herpes simplex, RSV, Respiratory infections (pneumonia, bronchitis), decreased immunologic response, GER, meningitis, SIDS, multiple sclerosis, inguinal hernia, allergy, eczema, asthma, lower IQ, reduced cognitive development, reduced social development, reduced dental health, diabetes, cancer, Crohn’s disease, Hodgkins disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, obesitiy.

For Mother, increased…• Postpartum hemorrhage, breast cancer, uterine

cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, osteoporosis, increased insulin requirements, poorer emotional health, greater financial burden, lost days of employment caring for sick child.

For Society increased…• Burden of illness, health care costs, negative

environmental impact.

Image: www.babymilkaction.org

Mothers Need Our Support

• More than 90% of B.C. mothers start breastfeeding their newborns.

• Less than 1/3 continue to breastfeed exclusively for the recommended duration.

• Supportive environments are important for mothers to continue breastfeeding.

Image: Okanagan Breastfeeding Coalition

Breastfeeding in Public is Protected

• The Canadian Charter of Rights

and Freedoms

• The British Columbia Human Rights Code

“Nursing mothers have the right to

breastfeed their children in a public area, and it is discriminatory to ask them to

cover up or breastfeed somewhere else”

But it is not always welcomed…

• Public breastfeeding may be a woman’s right, but public reaction is not always welcoming.

• Too frequently women are confronted, and subsequently embarrassed, for breastfeeding in public.

WestJet

H & M

YMCA

Should a baby eat in a bathroom?

Image: source unknown

What happens when mothers are not supported

to breastfeed in public?

Humiliating for mothers…

“I was appalled that he could take something so innocent [as feeding my baby] and make it seem so wrong. It felt like I had committed a crime, everyone was staring at me. I was humiliated.” (Heather, 2008)

Bad for Business…

Unhealthy for Mothers and Babies…

• When mothers aren’t supported in their community to breastfeed in public there is…

– Increased formula feeding– Shorter breastfeeding

duration

Image: www.deshiweb.com

Building a Breastfeeding Friendly Community Initiative

• All public places are encouraged to become ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’– Community Centre– Library– City buildings– Restaurants and

coffee shops– Retail stores– Malls– Parks

Breastfeeding and Pools

• Health concerns have been raised regarding breastfeeding in or around pools.

– Risk for baby?– Risk for the public?

Image: Okanagan Breastfeeding Coalition

Low risk for the baby

• Is there a health concern for the baby?

No

•“There is no cause for concern” (Dr. McGeer,Director of Infection Control,Mt Sinai Hospital; Gideon Koren, director of Motherisk, Hospital for Sick Children)

• Babies are exposed to bacteria everywhere - breastfed babies have a stronger immune system.

•Normal pool disinfection procedures are enough protection for baby.

•The chlorine in the pool is not a concern for normal healthy babies.

Low risk for the public

“There is no significant public health threat from exposure to breastmilk in pool water…If breastmilk is spilled into the water it will be promptly diluted. Additionally, recreational water disinfection systems are designed to inactivate pathogens. The potential for ingestion of pathogens is therefore minimal.” (Interior Health Policy HPG 9040 Jan 2009: Recreational Water)

What Does This Mean to You as an Employee?

• Read the policy and information pamphlet.

• Display a welcoming attitude to breastfeeding mothers.

• Do not ask a breastfeeding mother to cover up or relocate.

• Be prepared to deal with complaints a patron may have regarding a breastfeeding mother, without infringing on the mother’s rights (see role play on next slide).

• Seek the assistance of your immediate supervisor when necessary.

Role Play

• A mother is breastfeeding her baby by the pool while she watches her 2 other children in the shallow play area.

• A person approaches you and complains “This is indecent! Can’t you ask her to go to the changing room?”

• What would your response be?

Responding to a complaint• Stay Calm

• Acknowledge their discomfort…“I can see that this is upsetting for you”

• Explain…“I’m sorry for your discomfort, but the community centre supports breastfeeding in our facilities. You might not be aware that we would be in violation of the Human Rights Code of BC to ask a nursing mother to cover up or request that she breastfeed in another location”.

• Assist the complainant…“Would you be more comfortable moving over to this other side of the pool?”

• Refer…If the complainant is still unhappy, offer “If you would like to speak with the supervisor I will get her for you”.

• Minimize DisruptionTry not to involve the breastfeeding mother in this exchange.

La Leche League

For more information contact us:

Website: www.okanaganbreastfeeding.org

Phone: (250) 770-3419

References

Boland, M. (2005). Exclusive breastfeeding should continue to six months. Canadian Pediatric Society Position Statement. Retrieved 13 November, 2008, from http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/N/BreastfeedingMar05.htm

Breastfeeding.com (2008). The Lighter Side Gallery. Retrieved 21 October, 2008, fromhttp://www.breastfeeding.com/lighter_side/lighter_side_gallery.html

Breastfeeding in Pools (2009). Interior Health, Health Protection Policy #HPG9040.

British Columbia Human Rights Code (2008). Sex discrimination and harassment. The Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 19 October, 2008 from: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/humanrightsprotection/pdfs/SexDiscrimination&Harassment.pdf

CBC.ca (2008). Breastfeeding mother alleges WestJet harassment. Retrieved 13 November, 2008, from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/08/06/bc-breast-feeding-cover-up-west-jet-.html

CBC.ca (2008). H & M Cover up sparks human rights protest. Retrieved 19 Oct, 2008, from http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/080805/canada/vancouver_bc_breastfeeding_protest_h_m_vancouver

CTV Toronto (2007). Mother told not to breastfeed at Scarborough YMCA. Retrieved 13 November, 2008, from http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20070920/Mother_breastfeed_YMCA_070920/20070920?hub=TorontoHome

Health Canada. Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration 2004. Retrieved 19, Oct 2008, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Maple, S. (11 August, 2008). Breastfeeding moms protest at H&M. Retrieved 13 November 2008, from http://www.parentdish.com/2008/08/11/breastfeeding-moms-protest-at-handm/

Okanagan Breastfeeding Coalition (July 2007). Building a Breastfeeding Friendly Community (pamphlet).

Strange, B. (2002). Breastfeeding at municipal pools in Canada: A report from the Breastfeeding Action Committee of Edmonton.

The Canadian Medical Association, retrieved October 24, 2008, fromhttp://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/121/la_id/1.htm

White, A. (2008). Ontario Canada Breastfeeding Laws and Human Rights Commission Complaints. Retrieved 12 November, 2008, from http://www.breastfeeding123.com/ontario-canada-breastfeeding-laws-and-human-rights-commission-complaints/

World Health Organization (2008). Exclusive breastfeeding. Retrieved 19 October, 2008, from http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/index.html

Many thanks to the mothers and children whose pictures are included