Breastfeeding Buddies helps fight ongoing stigma
Program co-ordinator Michelle Buckner receives Teachers' Federation award for social activism
KITCHENER — Michelle Buckner, co-ordinator of the Breastfeeding Buddies program, was presented with a social activism award by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario last week.
A program based in downtown Kitchener is helping mothers — and those to be — break through barriers associated with breastfeeding.
Buckner, founder of Breastfeeding Buddies, which has been in operation at the Downtown Community Health Centre in Kitchener since 2011, said it received provincial recognition from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario last week for its social activism for breastfeeding rights and education.
Starting from scratch, Buckner has developed a network of 160 “buddies” who have lived experience in breastfeeding and dealing with particular barriers. They range from women who had children as young as 16 to others who have experience in refugee camps.
For Buckner, it started well before the program was created. A social worker by trade, Buckner had a child and was in a family that was open to breastfeeding.
“I had the extremely huge benefit of being in a family that supported breastfeeding,” said Bucker.
But she quickly realized that not all women had the same support.
“I thought, ‘How is a woman who doesn’t have this same social support going to be able to deal with breastfeeding?’” said Buckner.
The buddies, who are all volunteers, are called upon when they find someone in a similar situation or ethnic background who has concerns or questions about breastfeeding.
The group has also worked to standardize information pertaining to breastfeeding.
“There’s nothing more frustrating for a breastfeeding mother than when the information you get from your doctor is different than the information you get from your midwife and is different than what you get from your buddy,” said Buckner.
Multiple locations across Waterloo Region are now accredited by the Baby-Friendly Initiative, which means all of the information available is evidence-based and consistent.
The group is working on having more clinics on board with the program.
One of the most pertinent issues right now, says Buckner, is drug abuse and pregnancy.
Stigma surrounds new and expecting mothers with substance abuse issues, but Buckner says the success rate of treatment for women in that position is high.
“A lot of people seem to think that a drug user is just automatically a bad person,” she said.
“It can be such a transformative experience for women.”
Buckner said she sees positive signs when it comes to inclusivity of breastfeeding. The City of Kitchener, for example, has been a leader by not only allowing breastfeeding in its facilities, but encouraging it.
Buckner also said partners, whether male or female, are becoming more engaged in the topic and are showing more support for their female counterparts. “We’re getting there,” she said. With funding for all social services hanging precariously with the provincial government under new Premier Doug Ford, Buckner hopes the federal and provincial government continue to see the benefits of the program.
“This costs money to run,” said Buckner.
“I just hope both the federal and provincial governments continue to see that.”