bc baby-friendly network

World Breastfeeding Week 2009

The theme for 2009 is

"Breastfeeding: a Vital Emergency Response.
Are You Ready?".

Each year, the BCBFN collates a variety of materials to assist you in planning your World Breastfeeding Week Event. You'll find the current materials on this page, as well as a link to the archives from previous years. From posters, to brochures to power point presentations, there's something here for all your World Breastfeeding Week needs!

We hope you find these materials helpful and welcome your feedback. Please help us improve by completing an evaluation form.

You may download, print, copy and distribute any of the items on this page for any educational purpose that is in complete compliance with the International WHO Code on Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

Protecting babies in emergencies: the role of the public^PDF
The Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Core Group (IFE Core Group) is an international, interagency collaboration concerned with the development of training materials and related policy guidance on IFE. This guide was prepared by the IFE Core Group. “Organizations involved in emergency work need the support of the public and so you can play an important role in protecting infants and young children in emergencies. The IFE Core Group are keen to hear about your experiences related to the topics we have shared in this guide and particularly any influence that this guide has had on you or actions you have taken as a result of reading the guide.”

Also, listen to Dr. Karleen Gribble's recent presentation from the GOLD09 conference, 'Infant Feeding in Emergencies: Are you ready?'. Click here. (presentation will open in new window)

Infant Nutrition During a Disaster, Breastfeeding and other Options, by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 2007^PDF
A useful 2 page document outlining how Pediatricians (and others) can take action to support breastfeeding during a disaster.

An Open Letter re Hurricane Katrina by Dr Lawrence Gartner^PDF
Dr. Gartner asks health care providers to please consider the value of human milk and breastfeeding as an important component of this care of both young children and their mothers during stressful and distressing situations.

Dispelling Myths about Breastfeeding in Emergencies. UNICEF 1999. Dr Newman^PDF
This one page handout discusses the four main myths about breastfeeding in emergencies that can undermine both a mother's confidence and the support she receives.

Protecting Infants in Emergencies - Information for the MEDIA^PDF
"Natural and man-made disasters – earthquakes, floods, droughts and wars – regularly put lives at risk. And babies caught in the ensuing chaos are vulnerable to malnutrition and death. Journalists have an important role in helping to protect infants in emergencies by not supporting appeals for donations of infant formula and by reminding audiences that breastmilk is a reliable and sterile food that helps to prevent illness, while artificial feeding may further add to the health risks."

Emergency Nutrition Network
Extensive list of resources for WBW 2009.

60 Reasons to Breastfeed Poster^PDF A beautiful poster of some of the most compelling reasons to breastfeed. Number 56 is particularly appropriate in relation to this year's theme.

Breastfeeding and Influenza
International Lactation Consultants' Association - press release regarding novel swine flu^PDF
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine - BREASTFEEDING AND H1N1 INFLUENZA A - Information for Physicians^PDF
US Center For Disease Control - Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and Feeding your Baby: What Parents Should Know

Compilation of Resources from La Leche League International^PDF
This is an extensive list of items that have been published in La Leche League publications on the topic of breastfeeding in times of emergency and disaster. The information on this collection of pages has been reprinted with permission from LLLI publications. Articles are listed with the most recently published or revised items first.

Sharing a Bed with your Baby. UK Leaflet 2003^PDF
Keeping your baby close to you may be important during emergency or disaster situations. This pamphlet discusses how to share your bed safely with your little one.

Refrigerator Job List^PDF
This helpful idea for new parents that are learning how to cope with new parenthood comes from Diane Wiessinger.

Breastfeeding after child sexual abuse^PDF
Information Sheet on Infant Feeding for Women Who Were Sexually Abused in Childhood
See also the companion information sheet for lactation consultants^PDF who are assisting women who experienced abuse in childhood.

A Formula for Disaster
UNICEF explores the effects that formula companies' marketing practices have on the health and well-being of children in the third world. A set of five video clips.

Photo - Breastfeeding in times of crisis
The photo at the top of the page is a crop of this photo:

To see a larger version, right click on the photo and choose 'view' photo. To save, right click on the image and choose 'save'.
From Sarah Segal, Vancouver Island:
WABA (World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action) held a photo competition for submissions showing breastfeeding in times of crisis or emergency. I entered a photo of myself breastfeeding my then 8 month old daughter, next to an armed soldier on a bus in Israel. At the time, we were living in the north of Israel and were fleeing our home under bomb fire at the start of the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon...breastfeeding provided quick, easy nourishment for my daughter in a very dangerous and stressful time, as well as providing me with a soothing way to calm each of us during the distress we experienced as we fled and in the weeks following, spent as refugees in the homes of strangers.
My photo was one of 10 chosen as winners of the competition. I thought you all might like to see it, and to think ahead to what you might like to do for world breastfeeding week in August.



Workshop to implement the baby-friendly office initiative: Effect on community physicians’ offices^PDF
This is a research paper with the objective of assessing the effect of a self-appraisal questionnaire and a workshop for office staff in promoting the baby-friendly office. It was published in the journal, Canadian Family Physician, in 2000 and shows that the workshop that was studied effected a modest but positive change in breastfeeding promotion. The change was maintained at 6 and 12 months after the intervention.

Position Paper - Informed Decision Making and Infant Feeding Position Paper - Ontario PHA 2007^PDF
The OPHA believes that health care providers play a vital role in assisting mothers and families to make informed decisions regarding healthy and safe feeding practices for their infants and children. To properly assist clients in making informed health decisions, it is imperative that the information presented to clients is current and based on evidence and best practice.

Low-Birth Weight Infant Feeding^PDF (1.22MB)
This technical review by WHO addresses the following key questions: what to feed, when to start feeding, how to feed, how often and how much.

Safe Preparation of Powdered Infant Formula - WHO^PDF
"Powdered infant formula (PIF) has been associated with serious illness and death in infants due to infections with Enterobacter sakazakii. During production, PIF can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as Enterobacter sakazakii and Salmonella enterica. This is because, using current manufacturing technology, it is not feasible to produce sterile PIF. During the preparation of PIF, inappropriate handling practices can exacerbate the problem."

BC Healthfile - Breastfeeding^PDF
Latest (July 09) BC Healthfile on breastfeeding. "Breast milk is the only food or drink your baby needs for the first 6 months. Health Canada recommends breastfeeding your baby until they are at least 2 years old."

BC Healthfile - Safely Preparing and Storing Formula^PDF
Learn to minimize risks during preparation of formula if breastmilk is not available.

Health Canada Professional Advisory - Enterobacter sakazakii infection and Powdered Infant Formula^PDF There have been several small E. sakazakii outbreaks reported among infants fed milk-based, powdered formula products from various manufacturers. In addition to powdered milk-based formulas, powdered human milk fortifiers may also pose a hazard.

Promotion of Breastfeeding - Beyond the Benefits^PDF
by Claire Westdahl and Sallie Page-Goertz, IJCE Vol 21 #4.
This article presents The Best Start Three-Step Counseling Strategy adapted for use in group discussions. The use of this strategy offers unique opportunities to understand women's attitudes, needs, and the larger social issues that impact a woman's infant feeding decision and to improve effectiveness in promoting the decision to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding Offers Resilience Against Psychosocial Stress in Children^PDF
"Breast-feeding is linked to resilience against psychosocial stress, such as divorce, in children, according to the results of an observational study reported in the December issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood."

New review of the evidence on preterm breastfeeding published by WHO^PDF



Invitation for Submissions! The WBW committee of the BCBFN is always looking for submissions for our WBW web page. Interested?

ARCHIVES
WBW 2008
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WBW 2002