With regard to World Breastfeeding Week, at Canary Doctor we take the opportunity to share 3 interesting facts about breastfeeding in Canary Islands.
Do you know some of the initiatives for health professionals and for families with infants that exist in Canary Islands? We tell you ...
1- What recent initiatives have been carried out to promote breastfeeding in Canary Islands?
Last February in Tenerife, a hundred health professionals met in a conference whose objective was clear: to promote breastfeeding in our archipelago. It's about the Update Days in Breastfeeding.
Gynecologists, midwives, nurses, pediatricians, neonatologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists ... attended this meeting. They talked about this topic that increasingly interests the population.
During the meeting, organized by the Breastfeeding Commission and the Department of Continuing Education of the Hospital de la Candelaria, exhibitions were held where the guidelines to be developed by these professionals were shared when serving mothers and babies.
One of the topics addressed and in which more emphasis was placed was related to the physiological difficulties that the mother and / or newborn may present at the moment of initiating breastfeeding.
There was also talk about the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby and the mother, the importance of health personnel being able to connect with the mother to help her solve her doubts and fears about breastfeeding, among others.
These days have not only been held in Tenerife but have also reached other of our islands.
In general it is encouraging to know that our health professionals in Canary Islands They are constantly updated. In this way, they reinforce knowledge in the field. These professional conferences also encourage the exchange of ideas and are actions that promote breastfeeding in Canary Islands.
Informed professionals = Informed mothers and fathers = More properly breastfed children.
2- Are there breastfeeding commissions in Canary Islands?
The answer is yes.
En Tenerife, at the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, those interested have a Breastfeeding Commission. The purpose of these commissions is to encourage and promote this healthy habit to feed the baby with breast milk, at least, the first 6 months of life.
En Gran Canaria, we also found support groups for breastfeeding in Canary Islands. The Breastfeeding Committee of the Maternal and Child Insular University Hospital Complex He has created a website, where interested mothers can get more information. You can see it by clicking here
Fuerteventura, for its part, is one of our islands most committed to the subject. At Fuerteventura Hospital, mothers have at their disposal facilities to meet the needs of the infant and herself, as well as her companions.
It is important at this point to remember that the success of breastfeeding will not depend only on the mother but on the family as a whole. Support and understanding is essential. Hence the importance of informative initiatives such as the “breastfeeding week”, which help the message reaches many more people: not only mothers.
It must be taken into account that breastfeeding in Canary Islands is a priority health issue, since it is proven that breastfeeding improves the quality of life of mothers and babies.
3- Is there a collaborative network to promote breastfeeding in Canary Islands?
We are pleased to answer again yes. Is "Amadrina a first time."
This project brings together mothers with experience breastfeeding their children (who acts as a "godmother") and new mothers who want to breastfeed and appreciate the advice and help of other women with real experience in the field.
This very interesting project translates into an APP which was also winner of the Initiative Award for the Humanization of Care at Birth and Lactation (IHAN).
We invite you to get to know it thoroughly in this note from Canary Doctor: “Amadrina a Primeriza: The Women's Collaborative App"
Do you know any other initiative to promote breastfeeding in Canary Islands?
If you know any interesting initiative that is carried out in our archipelago, related to breastfeeding, you We invite you to comment on this post. You can also share the information on our social networks.
Together, we can help make this information of general interest, I reached more families with infants in Canary Islands.