by Cheryl Leschasin
Northern News Services

NNSL - Sixty-eight per cent of Northern mothers breast-feed their infants after birth, says Jenni Duke, a lactation consultant and certified Registered Nurse.

But that number falls to just 10 per cent by the time infants reach the age of six months, even though the benefits of mother's milk are far from fading.

Why the decline? Duke thinks societal pressure has a lot to do with it.

"A lot of people haven't been taught that breast-feeding is the best way to go," Duke said in a recent interview. When combined with stares and comments from strangers when trying to breast-feed in a public place, it's no wonder many women give up.

For example, she said, "at a recent pre-natal seminar, a woman shared a story about a security officer who asked her to stop breast-feeding in Centre Square Mall."

Michelle Saunders, assistant property manager at Centre Square Mall, said she was not aware of this incident and breast-feeding is definitely allowed.

"We don't have any problem with it," Saunders said.

Saunders admitted no special area is set aside in the mall for mothers to breast-feed, unless mothers want to go into a washroom.

However, Duke said breast-feeding in the washroom is out of the question for many women. "Not only is it unsanitary, but I know I wouldn't want to eat my dinner in the washroom."

Duke, along with others who work in health occupations, said she would like to see restaurants and other businesses designate themselves as "breast-feeding-friendly".

To do this, businesses can display a "breast-feeding-friendly" sticker, available from the public health unit and make accommodations for women who want to breast-feed.

Why is long-term breast-feeding so important? "Mom passes on antibodies through breast milk that help (prevent) ear infections, digestion, upper respiratory infections and general childhood illnesses," said Duke.

Breast-fed infants also benefit later in life, with statistics showing a decrease in asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, obesity and cholesterol levels.

A recent study carried out by researchers at State University of New York found that women who breast-feed have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer and girls who were breast-fed have less risk of developing breast cancer later in life.

"A lot of people think breast-feeding for six months is enough," said Duke, but lactation consultants encourage women to breast-feed for at least a year or more.