Dear Editor,
This year’s theme of World Breastfeeding Week, “Getting It Right from the Start,” was celebrated by a breastfeeding celebration held simultaneously at Richmond Public Health, (8100 Granville Ave.) and at the Birth Centre and NICU in Richmond Hospital on Oct. 3.
At Richmond Public Health, moms, dads, grandmas and babies from 18 days of age and up, came together to celebrate and share their stories.
The goal of all displays, games and fun was to promote, support and protect breastfeeding.
At the hospital, 14 moms celebrated breastfeeding and their babies’ arrival with cake, prizes and gift bags.
A big thank you goes to the sponsors of the event: Quintessence, IGA Marketplace, Safeway, Medela, Ameda Egnell and Awesome Nails for providing food and door prizes.
This year’s theme emphasized the need for good, ongoing support from partners, families and health care professionals to help women be successful when choosing to breastfeed their babies. In the coming months, Richmond Health Services will be working towards becoming the first community in Vancouver Coastal Health to earn the World Health Organization designation of being “Baby Friendly.”
This is an important step that will consolidate excellent support for mothers as they work toward optimal feeding for their babies.
Anne Swann and
Maureen Lister
Co chairs of the BF Action and Awareness Committee
Richmond Health Services
