As citizens of the community we feel it is important that breastfeeding support be available to those who need it while their child is a patient at CHEO. Currently The Children's Hospital Of Eastern Ontario has no full time permanent Lactation Consultant position. 

Human milk is the biological norm for human infants. Research demonstrates that human milk is not only healthier for baby and families, but more cost effective for hospitals and the taxpayers who fund them.

When a child is critically ill families are vulnerable and in most need of breastfeeding support to navigate the challenges that come with lactation and a child's hospitalization. Best practice also advocates for staff lactation consultants in all hospitals providing care to paediatric populations. 

It is not good enough to simply tell parents to breastfeed but provide no road map on how to reach their desired goal. Support needs to be provided during these periods by an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, who has specific training related to navigating these challenges. 

Presently CHEO is one of the last paediatric centres in Ontario without access for their patients to a staff lactation consultant. 

Our mission is to engage the Ottawa community to advocate for the most fragile among us. We encourage engaging respectfully with decision makers at CHEO to implement this as part of standard care, for those in most need of the service. Recognizing that babies and their families require support around the clock 7 days/week. 

We, the undersigned, call upon CHEO to fund staff IBCLC positions.