Infant feeding report: Centering the parent Fredericton Downtown Community Health Centre

Abstract

This report, developed in collaboration with the Fredericton Downtown Community Health Centre (FDCHC), critically examines infant feeding practices and support services with a particular focus on parental satisfaction and well-being. Drawing on a review of the literature and dialogue with FDCHC staff, this report highlights how infant feeding is often narrowly conceptualized, with an emphasis on increasing breastfeeding rates by focusing on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. Such a narrow approach does not consider the complex emotional and practical realities of infant feeding, including the challenges of meeting exclusive breastfeeding guidelines and the lack of guidance and emotional support for families using alternative methods. This report addresses this gap by first identifying the pressing need for inclusive and accessible infant feeding supports. And second, the report will provide a toolkit to guide the facilitation of an evidence-informed infant feeding support group, that prioritizes the well-being of parents and infants.