breastfeeding record

Bay of Plenty Times

Mums seek breastfeeding record
01.08.2005

By Paul Dykes

Michelle Burling Green knows it's hard enough feeding two babies at the same time, so she can imagine the challenge in breastfeeding 1200 babies at the same time.

That's the aim of Bay mothers who are planning a mass breastfeeding session to set a new Guinness world record.

World Breastfeeding Week starts today and local mums will join hundreds of other women across the country at 11am on Saturday to better the official mark of 1130 babies, set by mothers in Berkeley, California, in 2003.

Michelle, 32, has twin babies, seven-week-old Aidan and Molly, to care for in her Merivale home.

spac_writeAd('REGNZBOPT','LOCAL.STORY','300x250'); The former optical assistant at Langford Callard breastfeeds them together and has become a keen fan of breastfeeding.

"I had to persevere with it. A lot can be made of it and you can get a bit tense about it, but just let it happen," she advises. "I'm planning to take part in the record attempt."

The record-breaking attempt sessions are taking place at Welcome Bay Community Hall, Katikati Resource Centre and Chambers Wine Bar and Restaurant in Waihi.

"Thousands of breastfeeding women from Auckland, Warkworth, Thames, Cambridge, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim, Timaru and Gore will be breastfeeding at the same time," said Toi Te Ora health promoter Caroline McNicol.

The national event is organised by Women's Health Action. Toi Te Ora Public Health, Maori Women's Welfare League, La Leche League, Tauranga Parents Centre and Ngati Ranginui are supporting the local event.

"The event will make New Zealand history and raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and show the Western Bay community how important it is to make mothers feel comfortable breastfeeding on the go."

The worldwide focus of the week is to encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding after the introduction of solids (after six months).

All the groups are urging families to carry on exclusively breastfeeding up to six months and then to keep breastfeeding after other foods are introduced to the baby's diet.

"There is nothing better than breastfeeding for baby's physical and emotional health," said Trish Jackson-Potter, Plunket clinical adviser.

"The longer a woman breastfeeds, the more benefits her baby will enjoy."

Plunket hopes that breastfeeding for longer will be encouraged by new guidelines on breastfeeding in the workplace that support women to comfortably breastfeed at work.

With greater support from co-workers, employers and society, breastfeeding can continue well beyond a year, she said.

La Leche League Katikati is promoting continued breastfeeding of babies after the introduction of solid foods.

"Breast milk should be a main component of a baby's diet in the first year," said group leader Trudy Hart. "We encourage mother-to-mother support and have trained leaders."