I write this on the last day of World Breastfeeding Week 2019.
This years theme was “Empower parents, Enable breastfeeding”. We loved this message as it is one that is directed towards the wider community rather than towards breastfeeding families.
We know breastfeeding families are aware of the impact of breastfeeding, because we have a breastfeeding initiation rate sitting above 95%. We also know that this rate drops off quickly for so many reasons that have nothing to do with the families’ intentions, commitment or knowledge.
In our capitalist, patriarchal society, breastfeeding isn’t well-protected, well-promoted or well-supported. In fact parenting of young people in general isn’t honoured or acknowledged adequately for the vital role it plays in determining our future.
World Breastfeeding Week is not about shaming those who didn’t or couldn’t breastfeed. It is about holding to account those who get in the way and letting them know that we will continue to fight for the rights of women and babies everywhere to be supported, protected, honoured and enabled in their breastfeeding journeys.
In Canterbury, we had a number of cafes partake in World Breastfeeding Week by offering a free hot drink to parents visiting with their breastfeeding young ones – thank you to Bully Hayes Akaroa, Coffee Culture Bush Inn, Coffee Culture Riccarton, Coffee Culture Lincoln and Little Poms. We have shared many posts and articles on our Facebook Page and are excited to have gained 100 new followers during this period (https://www.facebook.com/canterbury.breastfeeding/), and of course, we ran the Big Latch On.
The Big Latch On was held at Eastgate Mall and was supported by the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Eastgate Countdown, Poi Toi, Move It Mama, Women’s Health Action, Ora Craniosacral Therapy, Babies Can Play, La Leche League, NZBA, Liane Helena Photography, Natural Magic Children’s Entertainment, Te Puawaitanga, lots of Breastfeeding Peer Counsellors and even more families. We had 55 babies and toddlers latching for the 10:30 countdown!
The wonderful family photographer Liane Helena (www.lianehelena.com) offered to take some photos for the event and has very kindly made those available for us. Liane has a special interest in breastfeeding and has a wonderful photography project celebrating breastfeeding at https://lianehelena.com/breastfeeding-stories-project. She was so keen to support the mothers she met for this project that she completed the Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor Programme. Thank you so much Liane. Here are some of the beautiful photos she took: 
