Hope I haven't reached my alloted number of daily posts...and sorry that I'm
cluttering up your inboxes.
 
Try as I might, I cannot locate where I may have stored the links for
Canadian breastfeeding stats.  I know they are out there, because I have
read them, but I've already spent hours looking for them, to no avail.  Can
anyone help find the stats for Canadian breasfeeding initiation rates and
durations?
 
As I already posted in my "Imagine If..." submission to Lactnet a few days
ago, I will be sitting on BC's "Conversation on Health" (a Province-wide
initiative) and I want to make a case for long-term Lactation Management for
each child-bearing women in the province.  Long-term meaning from third
trimester until weaning.
 
In this Province, and likely across the country, there is already TONS of
lactation management, information and help available in the prenatal and
early post-partum stage.  Though I don't have the stats right now, I know
our breastfeeding initiation rates are fairly high, and might even be the
highest in all of Canada.  However, if memory serves me correctly,
breastfeeding rates still drop off considerably at each stage (three months,
six months, etc.).  I *think* our province can only boast a six-month
breastfeeding rate of about 50 -60%...but...I might be wrong.
 
Nevertheless, I believe that one of the main reasons that breastfeeding
rates drop so drastically EVERYWHERE, is because mothers are not offered
long-term lactation management.  Yes, it is available, through La Leche
League, etc, but only for the mothers who *choose* to use those services.  I
believe all mothers should be offered lactation management, regardless of
whether or not they choose to join a mother-to-mother support group, or use
other community services.  
 
I know this is radical (please don't bite my head off!) but I truly believe
that breastfeeding rates would increase dramatically if all women had a
lactation consultant the same way they have a midwife or a doctor when they
are pregnant.  Some - those going to La Leche League, example - will not
need much more help than a pat on the back, but the majority still need
on-going help and encouragement TO CONTINUE to breastfeed past six months,
past one year, past 18 months, etc.  
 
This is the stand I plan on taking at the "Conversation on Health".  I plan
on submitting info about the WHO code, environmental concerns (lotta tree
huggers out here!  haha), obesity and long-term health issues.  I just need
the actual stats to show what our breastfeeding rates are.  
 
Does anyone have this?
 
Blessings!
 
Karyn-grace Clarke, IBCLC, LLLL
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada

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