Wellness and Breastfeeding support posters from First Nations Health Authority
The Breastfeeding Wellness Teaching posters, directed towards mothers, families and communities, outline the value of breastfeeding as the first traditional food, and uses a WELLNESS framework to outline the ways in which community can support mothers in their choice to breastfeed, giving encouragement under the following headings:
· Wellness
· Empowerment
· Learning to Parent is a Team Effort
· Listening to the Mother’s Needs and Questions
· No Mother and Baby Left Behind
· Excellence
· Support
· Sustainability
Accompanying the updated information sheet are four new posters:
· Breast Feeding: Reclaiming our Tradition shows an Elder and child, with the message, “Breastmilk is the first traditional food. Breastmilk flows ‘through our ancestors and to our future generations.’ ”
· Wellness is Breastfeeding shows a nursing infant and mother with the message, “Breastmilk is the first traditional food. Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mother and baby – it will keep both of them strong and healthy.”
· It Takes a Community to Raise a Child shows a nursing infant and mother enclosed in a wheel graphic of community member silhouettes with the message, “Learning to parent is a team effort. Mothers need encouragement and guidance. Aunties, grandmothers, and sisters can help out. Asking is a strength.”
· Fathers can help make baby strong by supporting breastfeeding shows a father cuddling and kissing his infant child on the forehead with the message, “Fathers can help by cuddling with baby, helping the mother to rest and eat well, and letting her know she is doing a good job.”
The information sheet and posters are available through the First Nations Health Authority website at https://www.fnha.ca/WellnessSite/WellnessDocuments/FNHA-Breastfeeding-Wellness-Tips-For-Mothers.pdf