Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces UPDATE Issue Five The Warehouse Welcomes The Big Latch on… it’s a Date! Breastfeeding Mothers The annual Big Latch On is a well-known international event held in August each year. Groups of breastfeeding mums and their In March this year The families come together at registered locations around the world Warehouse launched a to 'latch on' (breastfeed) their child all at the same time. The nationwide campaign event aims to celebrate breastfeeding and its health benefits as supporting breastfeeding part of World Breastfeeding Week and normalise breastfeeding in its 242 stores by erecting as part of everyday life. signs promoting their Breastfeeding Friendly Ukaipo, an Eastern Bay Breastfeeding Coalition, has created a local stance. summer alternative which recently saw mothers come together in Whakatāne to network, eat healthy kai, and breastfeed their While The Warehouse beautiful tamariki. The February event meant mothers could has always supported breastfeed in a public space at a warmer time of the year. breastfeeding, the new signs are a simple reminder to both For the upcoming Big Latch On, save the date - Friday 4th August breastfeeding mothers and or Saturday 5th August. If you can’t attend in person, you other customers that each store is Breastfeeding Friendly. are welcome and encouraged to take part in the selfie online campaign to connect with other breastfeeding mums via The Warehouse Group Chief People Officer, Anna Campbell @BigLatchOnNZ on Facebook. says, “We are really proud to be long term supporters of breastfeeding mothers in our stores, and want them and Visit www. their baby to feel welcome.” womenshealth.org. nz/programmes/ This demonstration of public support for breastfeeding helps breastfeeding-activities/ to normalise breastfeeding in public. As such, Toi Te Ora – big-latch-on to see what Public Health Service (Toi Te Ora) commends The Warehouse events are planned in for their role in providing a supportive environment for your area or to learn women to breastfeed in their stores. This is one example of more about hosting many initiatives that will help contribute to an increase in an event or the selfie breastfeeding rates across New Zealand. campaign. ‘The Daily’ becomes Te Puke’s first Breastfeeding Friendly café Te Puke’s newest café, ‘The Daily’, is fresh, fun becoming Breastfeeding Friendly Accredited and family friendly so it’s no surprise it’s now the was a natural step. “We like everybody to first café in the town to achieve Breastfeeding feel welcome and that definitely includes Friendly Accreditation from Toi Te Ora. breastfeeding mothers. At our café, we offer comfortable armchairs and a glass of water to Owned by The Search Party Charitable Trust, make it easy for mums to breastfeed. We have all profits from the café and catering go back always supported breastfeeding so it’s great to the local community. Those behind The to have new breastfeeding friendly signage at Daily are passionate about seeing people our entrance to let people know that.” connect with each other over great food and coffee. The focus is to do positive things in To find out more about breastfeeding friendly their community and everyone is welcome Rebecka Billington (L) and Christin or about becoming a Breastfeeding Friendly from all walks of life. Beer (R) with their Breastfeeding Accredited Space, contact Kylee Christie on Friendly Accreditation certificate 07 349 7266 or kylee.christie@bopdhb. Manager, Rebecka Billington, believes this from Toi Te Ora – Public Health govt.nz and check out www.ttophs.govt.nz/ approach fits well with supporting mothers Service. breastfeeding_friendly. to breastfeed during their time at the cafe so World Breastfeeding Kiwi Breastfeeding App Week 2017 Reaches 9,000 Downloads Since launching in September 2015, more than World Breastfeeding Week this 9,000 New Zealanders have had breastfeeding year (1-7 August) celebrates 25 support at their fingertips after downloading years of breastfeeding promotion, the free ‘BreastFedNZ’ app. The app is designed and is marking the occasion to provide simple ‘in the moment’ support and by focussing on sustainable information to help women and their babies, partnerships while working together for common good. alongside their partners and support networks, Support World Breastfeeding Week this August by: achieve their breastfeeding goals from birth to weaning. There hosting a ‘latch on’ event are six chapters, all covering key phases of breastfeeding such displaying breastfeeding friendly signage as, pregnancy and birth, the first few days, the early weeks and ensuring your Breastfeeding Friendly Accreditation is up twins and prem babies. to date promoting breastfeeding friendly resources. For more ideas on how you can celebrate and promote "This app was my go-to when I was having difficulties breastfeeding. World Breastfeeding Week contact us on 0800 221 555 and It was great to have a wealth of information visit www.healthed.govt.nz for free breastfeeding resources and support 24/7. It was so easy to use with simple that can be delivered to your doorstep. and straight-forward information. I just dipped in and out of it depending on how things were going for me that day. It was great to hear from other parents who were going through similar situations and the video clips just brought everything to life! An awesome breastfeeding support tool, one Breastfeeding Champions which I will definitely use again for my next child." in Your Community – Karen. The health and social benefits of breastfeeding are well known. Agencies play different roles to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in our communities. Toi Te “I found it very helpful and easy to use. Ora accomplishes this through the Breastfeeding Friendly I enjoyed the way in which it was written making it Accreditation project and is excited to announce a fun and easy to read for all users. There were several times collaborative approach which will see; Taupō Plunket, East through my breastfeeding journey where I had questions and Bay REAP, and Te Puna Ora o Mataatua joining forces with Toi after a quick search on the app I was able to find all the answers Te Ora as approved Breastfeeding Friendly accreditors. and tips I needed. After breastfeeding my first child for 15 months, I thought I knew everything I needed to about breastfeeding however The new breastfeeding accreditation champions for your when number two came along I soon realised that no two babies are local area are: the same. I came across quite a few things that I hadn't experienced Hellene Ross ([email protected]) from Taupō with my first, but once again, the info on the breastfeeding app Plunket (Taupō-Turangi communities) was able to answer most of my questions. It was so handy Sheryl Semmens ([email protected]) from East to be able to have a one stop shop for all Bay Reap (Whakatāne community) breastfeeding information.”– Mel. Tuihi Carre ([email protected]) from Te Puna Ora o Mataatua (Whakatāne community). Though breastfeeding work has always been a part of what To download the free app, search the Google Play or iTunes these organisations do, this is a new and exciting dimension. store for ‘BreastFedNZ.’ This approach will involve sharing resources, information and expertise with each other and their local communities. Their passion for breastfeeding, extensive knowledge of their local community, and enthusiasm will see us collectively reaching Breastfeeding Friendly tip more mothers and babies in the future. To support and encourage mothers to breastfeed and/ “I’m really excited to be part of this work. A lot of spaces in our or express breastmilk, provide a warm, quiet and community are already supporting breastfeeding and would be comfortable space. Promote this area using signage and regular reminders via your usual keen to be acknowledged for their efforts through breastfeeding communication channels e.g. noticeboard friendly accreditation.” – Helene Ross or newsletters so mothers know they’re Breastfeeding accreditation is easy and you can be part welcome to breastfeed. Another good way of it too, get in touch with your local champion to discuss to remind mothers to use your supportive breastfeeding environment is by hosting a latch on breastfeeding accreditation. event as part of World Breastfeeding Week. Key Messages For Staff What is Breastfeeding For new staff induction, those returning to work, or as an Friendly Spaces ongoing refresher, refer to these key messages about the benefits of breastfeeding. Accreditation? Why is being Breastfeeding Friendly Since 2011, Toi Te Ora has offered a Breastfeeding Friendly important? Spaces Accreditation initiative to businesses, workplaces and health services across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes region. The Ministry of Health recommends that mothers exclusively/ Breastfeeding Friendly Spaces Accreditation creates and sustains fully breastfeed babies until around six months of age. After six breastfeeding friendly environments with the goal of increasing months, breast milk is not enough on its own for a baby to grow breastfeeding rates and duration. and develop. Therefore breastfeeding should be continued until a baby is at least one year old with the addition of solid food Over 240 early childhood education services, businesses, cafes, from six months. Mothers may need help from their family, restaurants, retailers and libraries in Rotorua, Taupō, Western health services, workplace, childcare centres, and the wider