Want to learn more about …

Looking for information about prenatal supplements?

Are you pregnant or thinking about growing your family, and looking for information on which micronutrients to take? We know that strolling the supplement aisle can be overwhelming, so check out our Prenatal Supplement Guide:

Responsive feeding

Click thumbnail of infographic to download PDF.
Please cite as: “Mount Saint Vincent University MAMA Lab (2023) www.mamalab.ca”
Infographics developed by Jocelyne Labonté, RD MSc. Illustrations by Curtis Kang, Vancouver, BC.

Responsive feeding - resources for healthcare professionals

Rates and predictors of breastfeeding in Atlantic Canada

We recently analyzed Statistics Canada ‘Canadian Community Health Survey’ Public Use MicroFile data from 2017-18, and reported the rates and predictors of breastfeeding in Canada. You can read the full paper here.

Our summary of breastfeeding in Atlantic Canada is below (Click thumbnail of infographic to download PDF).

Infographics developed by Jocelyne Labonté, RD MSc. Illustrations by Curtis Kang, Vancouver, BC.

Inclusive language for lactation

Expert Series with Lactation Consultants

Videos and Infographics from our Infant feeding during COVID-19 Study

Resources

Nutrition information

For babies…

Government of Canada’s Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants recommendations:

• Nutrition for healthy term infants: birth – 6 months 

• Nutrition for healthy term infants: 6 – 24 months  

• Don’t forget that infants in Canada should receive vitamin D drops daily (400 IU, or 10 ug)

• Responsive feeding, or looking to your infant for hunger and fullness cues, will set your infant up for their best start. Parents and infants have different roles during feeding; learn more about this Division of Responsibility in feeding.

For moms …

• Check out this resource about eating while breastfeeding from HealthLinkBC.

• Moms can also follow Canada’s Food Guide.

• The American Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have terrific information here.

• Food safety is very important during pregnancy, when high progesterone levels put you at higher risk of food bourne illnesses.

Breastfeeding

• Looking for an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)? Find one on the Canadian Lactation Consultant Association website.

• Peer support can be extremely helpful in establishing and maintaining breastfeeding. Find a Le Leche League meeting near you.

• Nova Scotia’s Breastfeeding Basics is a terrific resource!

  • Page 19: when to feed your baby 

  • Page 21: encouraging your milk to come in 

  • Page 43: overcoming breastfeeding challenges 

  • Page 87: understanding the let-down reflex 

  • Page 122: people and services in your community 

• Your milk supply and signs your baby is getting enough milk from HealthLinkBC.

• SickKids Hospital in Toronto also has a good resource on determining whether your baby is getting enough.

• Looking for a different breastfeeding position? Dr. Theresa Nesbitt and Nancy Mohrbacher (IBCLC) have lots of great resources on the ‘laid back’ or ‘natural’ breastfeeding position. Also, lots of great videos, like What should I expect in the first 40 days of breastfeeding? and How do I get my baby to open wide?

• Learn more about the let down reflux from the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

• Information specific to Indigenous Canadians, from the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission.

• Here is a video showing some ways to support a breastfeeding mom from Swansea University!