Mothers promote benefits of breastfeeding at annual challenge

The rotunda of the Manitoba legislature was full of moms breastfeeding their babies Saturday morning.

A total of 42 moms took part in the annual breastfeeding challenge that takes place across Canada to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding.

The number this year was lower than last year, when 57 moms and their babies showed up, said Carolyn Perchuk, a clinical nurse specialist who helped organize the event. The cold blustery weather may have kept some at home, she said.

It didn’t stop Annick Rauch, who fed her five-week-old twin boys Brooks and Brecken in tandem to show her support.

“Breastfeeding is really important to me and to normalize it in public,” said Rauch, who also has a four-year-old and a 21-month old with her husband Chris.

An estimated 85 per cent of moms in Manitoba breastfeed their babies, said Perchuk. Manitoba usually places second behind B.C. in the annual breastfeeding challenge, she said.

Agencies/Canadajournal