RANKIN INLET - A total of 19 moms brought their children to the Rankin Inlet Community Centre earlier this month to take part in a breastfeeding challenge.

Little Alyson Beaton, three months, takes a break from the excitement for a quick snooze under the watchful eyes of her mom, Amey, during a breastfeeding challenge at the Rankin Inlet Community Centre in October of 2009. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The event was held across Nunavut as part of International Breastfeeding Week celebrations.

Rankin midwife Jennesse Oakhurst said the idea for the challenge started years ago in British Columbia.

She said it has since gone global and is a part of the World Health Organization's Breastfeeding Week activities, which aims at getting as many women to breastfeed as possible at the same time around the world.

"This event has been tried for the past couple of years in Rankin, but this was the first time we've had a good turnout," said Oakhurst.

"The Government of Nunavut (GN) pushed it this year, wanting every community to host a similar event.

"Most of the moms said the best part of the event was talking together and meeting other women who were breastfeeding.

"There were also prize giveaways and quite a bit of eating - the things women do when they get together."

Oakhurst said the GN gave each community $1,000 towards prizes, and a number of corporate sponsors also donated to the event.

She said Keewatin Air gave one prize ticket to each participating Kivalliq community.

"There are numerous advantages to breastfeeding, with the biggest one being babies simply don't get as sick.

"There are about 80 per cent less respiratory infections in babies who are breastfed, 50 per cent less gastrointestinal infections and 75 per cent less hospital admissions, compared to babies who are formula fed.

"When a baby is born, its stomach is only the size of a chickpea and the first breast milk, or colostrum, fills it the way it's supposed to be where formula doesn't.

"The motion of sucking on the breast encourages proper jaw development, which leads breastfed babies to have bigger and better-developed jaws."

Oahkurst said breastfeeding also helps moms lose weight quicker, and the hormone they produce while breastfeeding causes the uterus to contract, helping reduce postpartum hemorrhage.

She said breastfed babies tend to have higher IQs and be more independent children.

"Breast milk is always there, at the right temperature and sterile.

"Breastfeeding can be problematic if you're in, for example, downtown Toronto or rural Ontario or Quebec.

"You still hear of restaurants asking mothers to stop and go to a washroom, which is not where you'd prefer to feed your baby.

"But it seems to be relatively accepted in Nunavut and not much of a problem."