This is my first posting. I am a LC in private practice(just getting
established). I am also the Breastfeeding Coordinator for nine Healthy Baby
Clubs(HBC's) around the province. These projects are funded under the Canada
Prenatal Nutrition Program.The program focuses on the prevention of low
birth weight babies and targets low income pregnant women and adolescents.
The HBC's are integrated in Family Resource Centres in rural and urban
communities.The project includes food supplementation(milk,eggs and
oranges),nutrition counselling, support and education on lifestyle issues.
All of the projects are working to increase breastfeeding rates in this
target group. Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest breastfeeding rates
in Canada,approximately 43% of women initiate breastfeeding in hospital. The
rates are much lower in the rural areas of the province. My role is to work
with and support the resource mothers/ peer counsellors in each project.
Each project has support from a nutritionist and community health nurse but
the resource mother is the key support person for the pregnant women. I am
in the process of reviewing resources(videos, books, posters and pamphlets)
to use in the projects. Also, I am preparing educational sessions for the
resource mothers. My questions for the group are... Do you have any
interesting/ creative teaching strategies for this group especially around
the issue of encouraging women to choose breastfeeding? What about
resources? I know there has been considerable discussion about books the
past few weeks so please e-mail me privately. I will be on vacation from May
22-June 13 and will be no-mail.TIA
Janet Murphy Goodridge R.N.,M.N, IBCLC
St. John's, Newfoundland