Both the World Health Organization and Health Canada recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months of life. Breastfeeding provides young infants with optimal nutrition – and more. The antibodies in breast milk protect babies from disease at a time when their immune systems are still developing.
Although breastfeeding is the most natural thing, breastfeeding is a skill and may take time for a mom and baby to learn. It is important to have a support system in place. Kelowna and West Kelowna have several great breastfeeding support systems for new parents in place. They are:
Advantages for Baby:
- protects again yeast infections, respiratory infection and diarrhea
- acts as baby’s first immunization
- optimal nutrition and always fresh
- promotes teeth and jaw development
- protects against childhood obesity
- protects against diabetes, obvious diseases and ulcerative colitis
- decreased risk of developing allergies
- associated with decreased incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Advantages for Mom:
- promotes bonding with baby
- helps control bleeding and shrinks uterus to normal size after birth
- protects against breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis
- helps mom lose weight after baby is born
- saves money
- saves time
- does not leave any garbage behind
Kelowna Breastfeeding Centre
Located at the Rutland Health Centre
155 Gray Road, Kelowna, BC
Phone: (250) 980-4825 x4822
NOTE: Due to the H1N1 Virus the Breastfeeding Centre is closed from October 19th. Once the Centre has reopened we will post a notice on our What’s New page
However in the interim, if any Mom has questions or needs some help with Breastfeeding, public health nurses are available to help. To talk to a public health nurse, contact your Public Health Unit directly. Phone numbers for the individual Public Health Units can be found on our Immunizations page
La Leche League
La Leche League Leaders also offer telephone help to nursing and pregnant women who call seeking breastfeeding information and if need be provide home visits. All La Leche League services are free of charge. Call 250 860 0575 or visit www.lllc.ca for more information.
There are more than 200 La Leche League Canada Groups in communities across the country. Each Group holds informal monthly meetings, at which mothers receive accurate, up-to-date and personalized breastfeeding information and support for their role as a breastfeeding parent. In addition, mothers are able to draw on the experience of other mothers who attend. And of course, babies are always welcome!
The Kelowna LLL group meets at 7:00 pm on the first Wednesday of every month at 2339 Richter Street (the log cabin in Cameron Park).
The Kelowna Breastfeeding Centre is a fabulous resource. It is staffed with Public Health Nurses who have additional training in breastfeeding and provide individual assessments and counseling to new parents. The nurses will weigh your baby before and after a feeding session to determine how much nourishment your baby is receiving. They are there to answer any of your questions. And best of all it is free.
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