Breastfeeding: the natural thing to do

By Christy Marsters

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

Jean Shanks gave birth to her newborn baby, Devaney Daurie, Sept. 12 and knew right away she was going to begin breastfeeding. She said she felt love the first time she tried.

“There’s nothing like looking down and seeing her look up at me,” Shanks said. “I’ve always known I wanted to breastfeed because I think it’s important… and it’s natural.

“Every other mammal nurses their baby,” Shanks said. “I haven’t nursed in public yet but I think it’s important the community embraces it... We really need places to breastfeed.”

World Breastfeed Week is being celebrated from Oct. 1-7 and, in light of this, the Family Resource Centre of West Hants announced three new breastfeeding stations to be set up because of $2,000 received through a Breastfeeding and Baby Friendly Annotative Grant.

Family Resource Centre program coordinator Kim Chambers said the plan is to have one station at the Windsor-West Hants Visitor Information Centre, one at the St. Croix Ball Park and one at the Family Resource Centre. “This shows there are supports out there.”

As a mom, it can be difficult to schedule the day around breastfeeding, especially if there’s no place to go, Chambers said. “I know I don’t like to eat my dinner in the car.”

The towns have agreed with all of the sites suggested to turn breastfeeding friendly, Chambers said. “We really want to try to get the (community) more aware of breastfeeding.

“But, now we are seeing more mothers breastfeeding all the time… and we’ve come a long way in the last 10 years,” Chambers said. “Which is good, the benefits are endless.”

Home visitor Lisa Hennigar, who is also with the Family Resource Centre, said she see moms with babies and knows of the benefits to breastfeeding from costs, to bonding and health.

“However, as a new mom, I didn’t know of all the benefits,” Hennigar said. “Nurses encouraged me to do it and filled me in on the education…. It’s the natural way to feed.”

The encouragement is important too because the first few days can be difficult, it doesn’t always come naturally, and it’s easy to give up, Hennigar said. “But, it does get easier.”

Breastfeeding Factbox: Risks of Formula Feeding

(According to INFACT Canada, 2006)

For Infants and Children:

*Increased risk of asthma

*Increased risk of obesity

*Increased dental malformation

*Increased risk for infection from contaminated formula

*Increased risk of nutrient deficiencies

*Increased risk of chronic diseases

*Increased risk of diabetes

*Increased risk of childhood cancers

For Mothers:

*Increased risk of breast cancer

*Increased risk of overweight

*Increased risk of ovarian cancer

*Increased risk of osteoporosis

*Reduced natural child spacing

*Increased stress and anxiety

*Increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis

*Increased risk of maternal diabetes