As Canada celebrates World Breastfeeding Week from Oct. 1-7, Cranbrook mothers are encouraged to take part in the Cranbrook/Kimberley Breastfeeding Challenge at Rotary Park on Saturday at 11 a.m.
There will be plenty of door prizes to give away and along with a baby-wearing fashion show, all organized by Over the Rainbow Family Services.
This year's theme for World Breastfeeding Week—Breastfeeding: a winning goal for life—recognizes the lifetime benefits to breastfeeding that benefit both mothers and babies.
Breastfeeding provides infants with unique nutritional and health benefits such as antibodies and reduced risk for developing asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. For the mother, breastfeeding helps the body recover from the stresses of pregnancy, labour and delivery.
"Breastfeeding is natural, but not always easy," said Patty Hallam, Knowledge Coordinator with Interior Health. "Learning to breastfeed and becoming comfortable with breastfeeding takes time. Support from a team of helpers that include family, friends, health-care providers, and communities can make all the difference in building a woman's confidence and comfort with her breastfeeding."
Public health nurses are available at at health units across Interior Health to assist with mothers and infants during the breastfeeding years to ensure that families have all the help needed for babies to get the best start in life.