More breastfeeding support coming for Island moms and babies

Officials with Health PEI say by 2017 their complement of certified lactation consultants will be as it should be for the first time in two years.

Since 2015, Health PEI has staffed two certified lactation consultants positions on the Island, one in public health in the Summerside area, and the other one at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.

Starting in April 2017, a third lactation consultant will be based in Charlottetown offering support to public health nurses who go out into the community to help new moms and babies.

More support needed to encourage breastfeeding

Groups who work with breastfeeding moms and their newborns say more support could go a long way to promoting breastfeeding on the Island.

"When you look at breastfeeding rates in hospital, they are quite high," said Cora MacIntyre, with the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program at Families First in Montague. "They are in the 80 per cent range and once the moms go home, up to the six week mark, it drops dramatically."

MacIntyre, who struggled with breastfeeding her second child, said there's a stigma around it an assumption that it's normal and natural and should come easily, which can leave women feeling guilty when it doesn't work right away, and reluctant to ask for help.

She said that help can be hard to come by, especially in rural P.E.I., where public health nurses have many demands.

"You don't necessarily get to see them when you're actually struggling, it may be days or weeks depending on their caseload," she said.

Peer-to-peer programs for new moms

Janie Bulger, prenatal coordinator at KidsWest in Alberton, P.E.I., had trouble breastfeeding her first child, and believes that might not have been the case with faster access to a lactation consultant.

"I requested to see the lactation consultant at the hospital and she was so busy, I never did see her," said Bulger. "Just because they are there, doesn't mean you will get to see them. It all depends on schedules and when you have your baby."

With the help of a grant from the IWK, Bulger helped to launch a program Matched and Latched Peer Support to connects new moms in West Prince with experienced breastfeeders.

She said that support and guidance, especially in the first few weeks after giving birth, has helped more new moms in the area work through any troubles and has helped them stick with breastfeeding.

New lactation consultant will work with public health nurses

Officials with Health PEI said the vacant lactation consultant position was difficult to fill.

"This person is intended to provide expertise in more difficult cases, and support public health nurses as they support moms and babies in breastfeeding," said Kathy Jones, Director of Public Health and Children's Developmental Services with Health P.E.I.

"This is not someone who would necessarily go out to homes."

She said there are 31 public health nurses on the Island, with approximately 20 hours of specialised training to support breastfeeding mothers.

"We can always do more, there's no doubt about that," said Jones. "But I'm confident we have the expertise, and are growing it, to be able to support breastfeeding moms and babes and families throughout their breastfeeding journey."

She said Health PEI has started the process to attain the baby-friendly hospital designation, a global effort launched by UNICEF and the World Health Organization to promote and support breastfeeding.

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