News

SIMCOE, September 25th, 2015 The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) is proud to announce the launch of Adventures in Breastfeeding, a campaign to celebrate National Breastfeeding Week (October 1st to October 7th2015).

The multimedia campaign is intended to help normalize breastfeeding and also promote the supports and services offered through the HNHU. The campaign includes a series of posters featuring local moms, with their babies, talking about their breastfeeding experiences, as well as information about the benefits of breastfeeding and where to find more information. The posters will be displayed around the community, in both Haldimand and Norfolk counties. The campaign also features a social media component, encouraging local people to share their own Adventure in Breastfeeding, with a chance to win prizes.

“Our goal for this campaign was really to help normalize breastfeeding by getting people to talk about their experiences,” said Michelle Saraiva, a dietitian in Maternal and Child Health at the HNHU. “We also wanted to let moms know that support is available. Lack of support is often the reason a mother doesn’t breastfeed or stops breastfeeding early.”

This is the first major social media campaign planned by the HNHU. The goal is to have the campaign become part of a wider plan to promote and support breastfeeding that will last much longer than one week in October.

The HNHU is currently working towards earning the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) designation.  BFI, a global program of the World Health Organization and UNICEF, supports mothers in making informed decisions about feeding their child. A BFI designation indicates that an organization recognizes the importance of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding.  Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for babies and offers natural, health promoting ingredients.

As part of the BFI designation, county buildings support breastfeeding mothers by offering a private space to feed their babies.

For more information about the Adventures in Breastfeeding campaign or about breastfeeding in general, please contact the HNHU at ext 3250  at either   519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623 or visit hnhu.org/breastfeeding

Contact:

Michelle Saraiva

Public Health Dietitian

Maternal and Child Health Team

519-426-6170 x3237

[email protected]