Nubia is the mother to two beautiful children – Kenneth who is eleven months, and Mikaela who is almost three. Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, North Vancouver has been her home for the past six years.
The biggest difference between the North Shore and her home city?
“It’s much smaller,” she laughs. “But there are more parks here.”
With most of her family back home in Brazil, she has found a second community through a breastfeeding support group run out of Family Services of the North Shore, a United Way-partner agency.
“My main challenge after giving birth to my daughter was breastfeeding,” she explains. “I had no experience with it and had never seen anyone doing it. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and I needed a lot of support.”
Her experience is one shared by many new mothers.
A survey conducted through the UC Davis Medical Center found 92 percent of new mothers said they were having problems breast-feeding, citing issues around pain and milk production.
“People talk about it like it’s a simple thing,” says Nubia. “Or they just say, ‘well then just don’t do it.’ Neither of these things are simple or easy solutions.”
After Kenneth was born, she connected with the support program run out of Family Service’s I hope family centre.
The first six weeks post-delivery can be an overwhelming and challenging time for mothers, and the group provides breastfeeding support, shares nutritional education and provides postpartum adjustment services.
“To be with other women, to hear about their struggles that were so similar to mine – it made a big difference in my life because I felt a lot less isolated.”
For Nubia, it has been great to be able to attend with both Kenneth and Mikaela. She believes that this support group should be available in all communities with easy access to new mothers.
“It’s unique to find a space like this, a place where you don’t feel judged, where there isn’t an agenda. You can just come and share and be vulnerable.”
United Way believes that the right connection can change everything.
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Topics : Building strong communities, Kids and Youth, Local love
