SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A record number of moms and babies took on the breast feeding challenge, a world-wide event, held to raise awarness about the importance of breastfeeding.

Thirty-seven moms showed up with their infants on Saturday at Northern United Centre. Organized by the Yellowknife Breastfeeding Support Group, the purpose of the challenge was to get as many moms as possible, in various cities across the world, to breast feed at the same time.

Anna Wilshire holds her five-week-old son James. The pair participated in the breast feeding challenge on Saturday at the Northern United Centre. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

"Its basically to raise awareness about the importance of breast feeding," said Linda Traynor, co-chair of the support group. "It also supports the moms in our community that are breast feeding and offer resources to our communities as well."

About $1,100 was raised at the event for the support group and there was a sneak peek at the soon to be published book The Nipple Diaries; comprised of stories from women, mostly from Yellowknife although submissions were open to anyone, sharing breast feeding experiences.

One of the book's contributors, Peggy Holroyd, said the idea for the book – due out in November - started last year.

"I just had my baby and I was talking with other moms and we were laughing a lot about the experience of breast feeding and probably crying as well because it doesn't come intuitively," said Holroyd. "I have a story about spraying someone on an air plane."

She said by women sharing their stories it eases the pressure and stress of breastfeeding.

"If the baby pulls off you at the moment you're just spraying. It's an uncontrolled flow," said Holroyd. "I was spraying the person across the aisle from me on a plane.

"You have to laugh about it because it's not easy it's a skill ... You don't know if it will go bad or well."

Anna Wilshire was one of the moms who attended the breastfeeding event with her five-week-old son James.

"I think it's really important that everyone learns about breast feeding," said Wilshire.

"It has so many health benefits."

According to Rose-Marie Jackson, member of the planning committee for the support group, there are numerous benefits to breast feeding some of which are still being discovered.

"The health benefits of breast feeding are extremely important for the young babies immune systems, helps bonding with the mother and the baby, helps the mother with her postpartum recovery, "said Jackson.

"We are also finding there are many long term benefits to breast feeding well in to a persons adult life."

Holroyd said the competition aspect wasn't the main focus of the event.

"It's another avenue to raise awareness about breast feeding that what it's really about, it's not about the number of mothers, that's the fun part, it's just about supporting each other and encouraging breast feeding," said Holroyd.

"We're really lucky in Yellowknife that breast feeding is supported and they try and get the baby to latch on right after it's been born."

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