Breastfeeding your baby is
important to give him or her their best start in life. The World Health
Organization, the Canadian Paediatric Society, Health Canada, and Ottawa
Public Health (OPH) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six
months of life and to continue breastfeeding, with the introduction of
solids, for up to two years and beyond.
What makes breast milk special for your baby?
There are very few things in life
that can be tailored exactly to your needs. Luckily for babies, breast
milk does just that. Breast milk is custom-made by each mother for her
own baby. It contains an optimal amount of protein, carbohydrate, fat,
vitamins, and minerals that your baby needs to grow and develop. It may
protect your child from illnesses such as childhood diabetes and helps
to promote proper jaw and teeth development. One of the greatest things
about breast milk is that it will change and adapt to meet your baby's
needs as they grow.
Besides meeting your baby's
nutritional needs for growth and development, breast milk also contains
antibodies. Antibodies play an important role in the body's immune
system by identifying and fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses. The
antibodies your baby receives from breast milk may reduce their risk of
developing allergies. Also, breast milk helps protect against ear,
chest and stomach infections. After birth, your protein-rich first milk,
called colostrum, helps to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria by
coating your baby's digestive system.
According to the Public Health
Agency of Canada, breastfed children have also been shown to score
higher on IQ tests, and perform better in school.
What supports are available to help moms who want to breastfeed?
Ottawa Public Health's Ottawa
Breastfeeding Buddies (OBB) program is a mother-to-mother breastfeeding
telephone support program. It is provided to prenatal clients who are
planning to breastfeed, and postpartum clients who are currently
breastfeeding (includes expressed breast milk) up until their baby is 6
months of age. It is accessible to anyone living in the Ottawa area that
has a phone. The program buddies new moms with volunteers who have
breastfed their babies for six months or longer. Currently, it has 58
breastfeeding buddy volunteers who can offer phone support to new moms
in 17 different languages. In 2013, 121 matches were made.
As indicated through client
feedback, many moms value the breastfeeding information and emotional
support they receive from speaking with someone who has been through the
same experience.
If you wish to be matched with a Breastfeeding Buddy, or would like to become a breastfeeding buddy volunteer.
In addition to the OBB program,
OPH offers a breastfeeding basics class as part of our prenatal
education as well as Baby Express Drop-ins, which provide breastfeeding
and well-baby support by a Public Health Nurse to babies up to one year
of age. Additional Breastfeeding Support Drop-ins with support by a
Lactation Consultant are available 7 days a week.
What about breastfeeding in public?
Breastfeeding is normal and the
encouraged way to feed your baby. This right is protected by the Ontario
Human Rights Commission. No one should prevent you from breastfeeding
your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask
you to "cover up," disturb you, or ask you to move to another area that
is more "discreet."
Source: parentinginottawa.
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