Breastfeeding childbirth and parenting-conference

Breastfeeding childbirth and parenting-conference

Date 3rd August 2004

Breastfeeding, parenting and childbirth La Leche League Conference 2004

Persistently difficult toddlers, mothering in the 21st century, medications while breastfeeding and exercise during pregnancy are some of presentations at this year's La Leche League conference being held in Wellington next month.

More than 200 breastfeeding enthusiasts - LLL Leaders, health professionals, mothers, fathers, and up to 100 babies and toddlers - will gather in Wellington for the conference to discuss topics related to breastfeeding, parenting and childbirth.

Highlights of the conference include: * Medications while breastfeeding, presented by paediatrician Dr Leo Buchanan. * Rethinking healthy infant sleep, presented by Susan Procter. * The culture of breastfeeding, presented by Dr Annette Beasley. * Understanding and communicating with teenagers, presented by Alison Stanton. * Macho maternity -the working/breastfeeding/childcare dilemma, presented by Dr Judith Galtry. * James Akre, recently retired from the World Health Organisation.

The conference also celebrates the 40th anniversary of La Leche League New Zealand, whose mission is to provide information, support and encouragement for all women wanting to breastfeed their babies. League Director Rosemary Gordon points out that in 1964 breastfeeding rates for two week old babies hovered around the 50 percent mark, compared to 2003 Plunket figures which show that at four to six weeks 82 percent of babies are receiving at least some breast milk.

"Breastfeeding for the first six months was generally regarded as quite radical in the 1960s so we have come a long way. However the fact that only 10% of babies are still being exclusively breastfed by four to seven months shows that we still have a long way to go."

Media are welcome at all the conference sessions which will be held at:

Where: St Patrick's College, 207 Fergusson Drive, Silverstream, Upper Hutt When: September 24-26 2004

ENDS

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