Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces UPDATE Issue Seven Healthy Pregnancies Day Highlights Breastfeeding Benefits Toi Te Ora Public Health (Toi Te Ora) recently as small disruptions that occur shortly after hosted a Healthy Pregnancies Education take-off can have large effects on its ultimate Day, providing midwives and other health trajectory.” professionals with advice on supporting The study found that of those mothers who healthy pregnancies. The focus was on intended to breastfeed when pregnant, 96% modifiable risk factors for childhood did go on to breastfeed. The Ministry of Health obesity such as smokefree, nutrition recommends that all mothers exclusively (including breastfeeding), racism and the breastfeed babies until six months of age. The health impacts on mothers and babies, Growing Up in New Zealand study found only 6% immunisation and housing. of babies are exclusively breastfed at six months. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life (from Forty eight percent of babies are still being conception to a child’s second birthday) breastfed (not exclusively) at nine months. For have a very important influence on the mothers not breastfeeding at nine months, one health of a child throughout his or her of the main reasons was because they had gone life. For instance a mother’s nutrition back to work and expressing breast milk was not Associate Professor Susan Morton, during pregnancy, being smokefree, and convenient or possible while working. presents findings from the Growing breastfeeding, each influence the chance of Up In New Zealand longitudinal study Toi Te Ora’s vision is for lifelong health and a child becoming overweight or obese. at Toi Te Ora’s Healthy Pregnancies wellbeing for all. As breastfeeding helps lay the Associate Professor Susan Morton, who Education Day. foundations of a healthy life, we are committed presented findings from the Growing Up In New Zealand to supporting the development of spaces, including workplaces longitudinal study, says, “Some have compared a child’s evolving that are breastfeeding friendly which will contribute to the health status in the early years to the launching of a rocket, increase of breastfeeding rates and duration. Breastfeeding and Baby Friendly at Lakes District Health Board Lakes District Health Board’s (Lakes DHB) hospital sites in Rotorua breast pump, fridge, and a and Taupō are leading the way in supporting breastfeeding comfortable chair. Staff are also mothers to start and continue breastfeeding, after achieving able to take additional time (on Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces Accreditation from Toi Te Ora. top of their normal breaks) to breastfeed or express. A holistic Breastfeeding lays a foundation for good health in infancy, approach to breastfeeding sees childhood and into adult life and maternity hospitals have a the breastfeeding room easily special role in supporting mothers to breastfeed, especially accessible to all and promoted via when first starting out. signage, and is not confined to the To further show their commitment, Lakes DHB is also “Baby Friendly maternity or children’s ward. Hospital Initiative” accredited, and is committed to adopting Sue Wells, Lactation Consultant at practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding while Lakes DHB, says wanting what is treating every mother with respect and supporting her with factual Donna Mayes, Service best for women, babies and their information. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is a World Health Manager, Woman, Child families underlies everything they Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund initiative which and Family at Lakes District do. “It is about supporting mothers Health Board, is presented was established to raise the standard of care for mothers and babies in their skills and confidence in the with their Breastfeeding and child health has improved as a result. hospital, and out into the home and Friendly Accreditation Certificate from Toi Te Ora Research shows that women are more likely to continue their community.” Public Health. breastfeeding for a longer period if they receive support from their workplace. Lakes DHB supports their breastfeeding For more information about Lakes DHB’s support for workforce by providing a staff breastfeeding room that can breastfeeding and babies, seewww.lakesdhb.govt.nz/Article. be used for breastfeeding or expressing, complete with aspx?Id=6702 Bringing Mama Together with Breastfeeding Friendly We’re delighted to announce Seedlings Edgecumbe recently experienced this Preschool Edgecumbe recently became first-hand after a breastfeeding Mum Breastfeeding Friendly accredited from Toi encouraged another mother, who was Te Ora, taking the number of accredited ready to end her breastfeeding journey, spaces in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes to not to give up and to breastfeed next 250! The aim of the Breastfeeding Friendly to her on the couch as part of their Spaces project is to encourage and breastfeeding space. The Mums’ shared support mums to breastfeed by providing with each other their own breastfeeding a comfortable space to breastfeed, journeys’ while feeding their pepe. What supportive policies, and staff training, with a beautiful example of breastfeeding the goal of increasing breastfeeding rates friendly spaces bringing Mama together and duration. in a supportive environment for the benefit of their babies. Providing a supportive and private Lainie Apiata (L) an advisor from East space where breastfeeding mothers feel If you would like to become Bay REAP (one of Toi Te Ora’s partners in breastfeeding promotion), presents comfortable and supported to breastfeed breastfeeding friendly accredited, the Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces or express can make a huge difference or if you know a space which may Accreditation certificate to Seedlings on a mother’s decision to continue be interested, email breastfeeding. Preschool Edgecumbe’s Center Leader, breastfeeding. Seedlings Preschool in [email protected] Sharon Everett (R). Breastfeeding Whakatāne Summer Latch On Boosts and Working Breastfeeding Confidence Providing a breastfeeding friendly space in a workplace, such as a dedicated breastfeeding and expressing room, can support women to return to work and continue breastfeeding. A New Zealand study in 2015 by Women’s Health Action shows that women are four times more likely to stop breastfeeding their baby at three months of age or less if they receive no workplace support. A helpful brochure for women to consider their options Local mums Estelle Reid Allerby (L), Julie Allerby (centre), Maia Grant (R), and Heather about breastfeeding and working can be Cresswell (far R) breastfeed their babies during the Summer Latch On event in Whakatāne. ordered or downloaded from www.healthed.govt.nz Each year, Big Latch On events are organised right around the globe to celebrate, support, and promote breastfeeding. These events enable mothers to make new friends, network, have fun, and grow in confidence to breastfeed in public. A recent, example of this was the Whakatāne Summer Latch On which was organised to celebrate and raise awareness of breastfeeding and its health benefits. While the Big Latch On is celebrated each August, the summer event was the result of a request for more local breastfeeding events. The event, hosted by the Eastern Bay of Plenty Breastfeeding Coalition - Ukaipo Inc, saw Mums and their babies gather at a local Breastfeeding Friendly Accredited Space, Whakatāne’s Te Koputu Library and Exhibition Centre. Fifteen Mums and their babies attended, with feedback showing that six of those in attendance felt increased confidence to breastfeed in their community or workplace because of the Latch On. Watch out for local Big Latch On Events, or host your own this coming World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August), and join other mums around Aotearoa, and the world to celebrate breastfeeding. Local businesses and organisations can support the normalisation of breastfeeding all year round by becoming Breastfeeding Friendly accredited by Toi Te Ora. Key Messages For Staff What is Breastfeeding For new staff on induction, those returning to work, or as Friendly Spaces an ongoing refresher, refer to these key messages about the benefits of breastfeeding. Accreditation? Why is being Breastfeeding Friendly important? Since 2011, Toi Te Ora has offered a Breastfeeding Friendly The Ministry of Health recommends that mothers exclusively/ Spaces Accreditation initiative to businesses, workplaces and fully breastfeed babies until around six months of age. After six health services across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes region. months, breast milk is not enough on its own for a baby to grow Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces Accreditation creates and sustains and develop. Therefore breastfeeding should be continued until breastfeeding friendly environments with the goal of increasing a baby is at least one year old with the addition of solid food breastfeeding rates and duration. from six months. Mothers may need help from their family, health services, workplace, childcare centres, and the wider Two hundred and fifty early childhood education services, community to feel encouraged and supported to breastfeed. workplaces, cafes, restaurants, retailers and libraries in Rotorua, Taupō, Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty have created What are the benefits of breastfeeding? supportive environments, and achieved Breastfeeding Friendly Breastfeeding and breast milk helps protect babies from Spaces Accreditation. Overall, feedback indicates that mothers some childhood