Breastfeeding babies and moms unite
Sixty seven nursing mothers made their way to the Saint-alphonse-deligouri park in the North end of Sherbrooke on Saturday Morning to take part in the annual “Défi allaitment” breastfeeding gathering. In weather that wobbled between chilly in the shade and warm in the sun, the mothers and children split their participation in the pubic event between a sheltered indoor space and the grassy fields of the park.
“Breastfeeding is the norm when it comes to the feeding of infants and young children” said Doctor Mélissa Généreux, director of public health with the CIUSSS de L’estrie CHUS, the Eastern Townships’ regional healthcare institution. “It is important for the health of both mother and child and also has benefits for the entire family was well as society as a whole.”
While underlining he importance of supporting breastfeeding Généreux, a mother herself, also pointed out that it is very important to provide support and assistance to mothers who, for whatever reason, are unable to breastfeed or find the process challenging. Public events like the Défi, she said, are strong avenues for such support and provide opportunities for partner organizations like the Lennoxville and District Womens’ Centre, to connect women in need with the resources available to help them.
Current medical standards recommend babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life, and encourage the practice to continue up to two years of age or beyond with the addition of other food sources to the diet.
Although the day brought some colder weather with it, organizers of the event generally said that turnout and participation was better than the 2016 edition, which was held inside of the Carrefour de L’estrie shopping mall.
Sherbrooke’s “Défi allaitment” was one of several that took place across the region as a part of world breastfeeding week. Similar events also took place on Saturday in Granby, Magog, Coaticook, and in Cowansville.