Breastfeeding Surveys and Petitions

2024 Breastfeeding Survey

PAST SURVEY:

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD – 2024 KCR BREASTFEEDING SURVEY REPORT

Breastfeeding Systems Change Project ‒ Breastfeeding Survey
Survey conducted by: Jocelyn Haight, BN, IBCLC, on behalf of the Breastfeeding Systems Change Project (BFSCP)
Date of Report: December 9, 2024

KELOWNA PETITION – Petition Link

Kelowna General Hospital Needs Designated Lactation Consultant Services to Support New Mothers and Babies

Number of supporters who signed the petition: 741

The Issue

Kelowna General Hospital supports more than 1600 births per year, making the largest birthing centre in the region. However, unlike smaller hospitals within the region, KGH does not have dedicated lactation consultant services to support new moms on their journey.

 

KAMLOOPS PETITION – Petition Link

Full-time Lactation Consultant on staff at Royal Inland Hospital

Number of supporters who signed the petition: 1,505

The Issue

Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) located in Kamloops, BC is responsible for serving a distance of over 215,000 km, a population of 750,000+, and delivers almost 1,300 babies each year.

RIH removed the position of a designated full time Lactation Consultant over 2 years ago and we are petitioning to bring that very important job back.

In November of 2016, The United Nations declared Breastfeeding to be a human right. Families of the Southern Interior deserve to have access to proper support when giving birth at RIH, whether they choose to breastfeed or not. A Lactation Consultants job is not only to provide education and support to breastfeeding families, but to ensure all families are informed in their choices and ensuring safety with infant feeding.

Thank you for taking the time to join us in our efforts to provide this change that will be in accordance with human rights and benefit the overall health of our community.

 

BCLA PETITION – Petition Link

Breastfeeding services in key areas for families, particularly during COVID pandemic

Number of supporters who signed the petition: 665

The Issue

Access to high quality breastfeeding support across regions and within healthcare programming in British Columbia, Canada was inconsistent prior to the crisis.

The current situation has only exacerbated the pre-existing lack of support through re-deployment of public health resources and social distancing, making it even more difficult for breastfeeding families to achieve their goals. Yet when breastfeeding is going well, it provides a vital safety net to families by ensuring a safe, secure, reliable food source, immunological support to the infant and down-regulates the stress response for the breastfeeding mother & infant.

BCLCA has a position statement utlining the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the families we serve and arguing that increasing support in key areas will minimize the potential for negative effects on the next generation. Specifically, we argue for implementation of the following key strategies in order to provide support for families to achieve their infant feeding goals at this critical time:

  • Immediately act to ensure universal access to lactation consultant services through 811 or create a dedicated provincial infant feeding support line, similar to what is available in Ontario
  • Minimize the erosion of existing breastfeeding and other
    maternal/child prevention services (e.g. postpartum mental health support).
  • Establish a provincial virtual prenatal education program that includes evidence informed breastfeeding content.
  • Scale up and invest in peer support services, such as La Leche League Canada to provide virtual supports; however, for sustainability it is preferable for these programs provide remuneration to workers.
  • Develop regional lactation consultant positions in order to support healthcare workers and primary care providers serving families in evidence-based infant feeding practices.
  • For families requiring specialized help, consider lactation services billable to MSP or ensure access to these services through the creation of clinical positions in locations providing birthing services, prioritizing those facilities with NICU’s.

Optimal infant feeding is not an individual responsibility with only individual consequences: now more than ever we need to have the supports in place to help families achieve their infant feeding goals. The current crisis is an opportunity for us to re-evaluate our priorities and decide if breastfeeding is worth a real investment.