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Over 10,000 MotherBaby Pairs joined the Synchronized Breastfeeding Globally

Mothers and babies in 14 countries joined efforts to breastfeed in a global synchronized breastfeeding project on 8 August 2007, which was organized in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week. The event, carried out at 325 sites in 14 countries at 10am their local time, attracted 10,103 motherbabies. A total of 9,826 motherbaby pairs successfully latched on for one minute.   

This inaugural world attempt saw participation of breastfeeding groups in Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and Latin America.
Philippines top the contribution for this record, with over 7,000 motherbaby pairs, followed by Japan and New Zealand, with over 1,000 and 800 respectively. The event was spearheaded by Children for Breastfeeding-Philippines, in partnership with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).


This feat crossed national boundaries in a collaborative, global effort to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. “We want to elevate breastfeeding to a level where it is considered the norm, where mothers and children are proud to breastfeed.,” said Elvira L. Henares-Esguerra, Director of Children for Breastfeeding.  

The effort for global synchronized breastfeeding will also bring attention from policy makers to the communities to recognize the importance of breastfeeding initiation during the first hour. “The challenge is to find creative and convincing ways at the community level to encourage breastfeeding and to provide national authorities with solid evidence of the advantages of promoting breastfeeding at the national level,” said Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF. 

The events attracted collaborations from UN agencies, governments, hospitals and other NGOs. “The authorities who attended our event were very touched. It is important to show policy makers the importance to support mothers to breastfeed, particularly during the first hour of babies’ lives,” said Yanet Olivares of Dominican Republic, which recorded 77 mother-baby pairs. 

Many braved storms and continuous rains in Asia to join this historic event. Belen Dofitas was one committed mother in the Philippines. “Matt and I traveled despite the storm, and we managed to gather 40 mothers and children pairs at our site,” she said. 

Many mothers and babies were also accompanied by spouses and other family members as a sign of family commitment towards helping mothers to breastfeed successfully. In Malaysia, Pong Yong How, a first-time father who accompanied his wife and baby at the event in Penang, said it was important for fathers to encourage breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding is not an easy job. Newborns have to be fed over 10 times a day,” he said. 

This is the first time WABA is sponsoring a coordinated global activity for World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), celebrated in the first week of August in over 120 countries worldwide. The theme for 2007 is Breastfeeding: The 1st Hour - Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for six months can save more than ONE million babies!, emphasizing that one simple action of allowing the baby to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour of life could potentially save one million babies. 

News and pictures:

              Dominican Republic http://www.breastfeedingworld.net/participate-dominican.html
       
Malaysia http://www.breastfeedingworld.net/participate-malaysia.html, http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2007/8/9/north/18537040&sec=North
        New Zealand http://www.womens-health.org.nz/breastfeed/bfweek2007.htm, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10456550
        Philippines http://www.breastfeedingphilippines.com/bfc.html
       
USA http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/family/archives/119669.asp 
 

Country Registered

Country Reported

Number of MotherBabies participated

Number of MotherBabies breastfed at 10am, 8 Aug 07

Argentina

 Argentina

 2

Australia

 

 

 

Bangladesh

 

 

 

Brunei

 

 

 

Cameroon

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

Chile

 

 

 

Colombia

 

 

 

Cyprus

Cyprus

61

54

Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

81

78

Finland

 

 

 

Greece

Greece

10

10

Hong Kong

 

 

 

India

 

 

 

Iran

 

 

 

Japan

Japan, 25 sites

1054

1029

Malaysia

Malaysia, 2 sites

194

188

Malta

Malta

82

82

Mexico

Mexico

2

2

New Zealand

New Zealand

903

826

Philippines

Philippines, 195 sites

7433

7293

Paraguay

Paraguay

24

24

Singapore

Singapore, 4 sites

152

150

Sweden

 

 

 

Switzerland

 

 

 

Turkey

 

 

 

Uganda

Uganda

33

33

Ukraine

Ukraine

2

2

United Kingdom

UK

16

11

USA

USA, 7 sites

138

126

Total

 

10,103

9,826

 

 

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WABA: Protects, Promotes and Supports Breastfeeding Worldwide The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support  of breastfeeding worldwide. WABA action is based on the Innocenti Declaration, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the Global Strategy for Infant & Young Child Feeding. Its core partners are IBFAN, LLLI,  ILCA,  Wellstart International and ABM. Find out more at the WABA website.