This year's World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) theme, 'BREASTFEEDING
SUPPORT: CLOSE TO MOTHERS', highlights Breastfeeding Peer Counselling.
Even when mothers are able to get off to a good start, all too often in
the weeks or months after delivery there is a sharp decline in
breastfeeding rates, and practices, particularly exclusive
breastfeeding. The period when mothers do not visit a healthcare
facility is the time when a community support system for mothers is
essential. Continued support to sustain breastfeeding can be provided in
a variety of ways. Traditionally, support is provided by the family.
As societies change, however, in particular with urbanization, support
for mothers from a wider circle is needed, whether it is provided by
trained health workers, lactation consultants, community leaders, or
from friends who are also mothers, and/or from fathers/partners.
The Peer Counselling Program is a cost effective and highly
productive way to reach a larger number of mothers more frequently. Peer
Counsellors can be anyone from the community who is trained to learn to
support mothers. Trained Peer Counsellors, readily available in the
community become the lifeline for mothers with breastfeeding questions
and issues. "The key to best breastfeeding practices is continued
day-to-day support for the breastfeeding mother within her home and
community."
2011 World Breastfeeding Week & Illinois Breastfeeding Promotion Month
Activities to Celebrate World Breastfeeding
Week and MonthFrom World Breastfeeding Week &
Illinois Breastfeeding Month Events Survey 2011
Thirty-one agencies responded to a
SuveyMonkey survey to describe agency activities and events to celebrate World
Breastfeeding Week and Illinois Breastfeeding Promotion Events. Celebrations included: agency parties,
lunches and recognitions, donated massages, giveaways and special breastfeeding
presentations. Community walks, health
fairs, zoo events and pool parties were hosted by many agencies. Agency staff
wore breastfeeding bracelets and t-shirts to celebrate breastfeeding week and
month. Special in-services provided
breastfeeding up-dates for staff and educational materials were shared with
pregnant and breastfeeding clients. Over
two-thirds of the agencies had prominent breastfeeding displays or bulletin
boards in their lobbies or entrances.
Other agencies exhibited posters or displays at local libraries or their
community college. Almost half of the
agencies used WBW/Month as an opportunity to do outreach to area physician
offices and community hospitals. Besides
information on WIC and breastfeeding peer counselor services, agencies took cookies,
fresh fruit and baskets of treats and educational materials to share with area
pediatricians and obstetricians. Almost
a fourth of the agencies provided “nursing stations” at county fairs and
participated in regional or county task force events to celebrate WBW and
Illinois Breastfeeding Promotion month.
Many agencies (32%) adapted the theme, while almost a third used the
theme in their celebrations and promotions and 29% chose not to use the WABA
theme for WBW. Fifty-two percent of the responding agencies had newspaper
coverage and 5 agencies had radio interviews or programs. One agency reported a TV interview. Congratulations on a successful WBW/Month!
For more details and information on agency celebrations:
