Workshop focuses on healthy babies

SARA MINOGUE

It’s Friday morning, the tail end of a long week of seminars and discussions, but community health workers from across the Baffin region are using the last few minutes of their annual pre-natal care workshop to make copies of a pattern for an indoor amauti.
The pattern is a great asset for sewing circles for new moms, explains Sarah Qaqqaq, a community health representative who uses the pattern as part of mother-to-be programming in Qikiqtarjuaq.

Qaqqaq is one of about 18 health workers and pre-natal programming coordinators who met in Iqaluit from October 18 to 22 to get the latest information that will help them make sure that new babies are healthy babies.

Pre-natal programs in the communities are offered for expectant mothers and new moms, and focus on nutrition, breastfeeding, and disease prevention.

During the week, participants enjoyed clams and duck from Qikiqtarjuaq, shrimp from Panniqtuuq, and fresh caribou as they experimented with recipes during a seminar where they talked about how to host a cooking class.

Pre-natal care in Nunavut is largely based on the Nunavut Food Guide, which emphasizes country food as part of a balanced, nutritious diet.

Cooking classes give pregnant women a change to get together, eat healthy food, learn new recipes and talk to one another.

Breast-feeding is also encouraged during the workshops.

At the Iqaluit workshop this year, participants also learned about preventing diseases, such as rickets, a childhood bone disease that can leave kids bow-legged.

“I had heard about it but I feel the whole community needs to know,” Qaqqiq says.

“Children with rickets have to go to the doctor and it’s our job to let the community know about it.”

Leanne Webb, a registered dietitian who works for Health and Social Services on the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative as well as the Canadian Pre-Natal Nutrition Program, says that nobody knows the number of incidents but that there are some cases of rickets in Nunavut.

“It’s entirely preventable through Vitamin D drops,” Webb says, adding that the drops are only necessary for babies before they are old enough to eat healthy, nutritious foods and absorb sunshine, a main source of Vitamin D.

The workshop takes place every year, and includes new CHRs as well as long-term veterans. Part of the workshop is about community workers just getting together.

“People in Nunavut are separated by distance. They really like the opportunity to get together, and we make time so people can share,” Webb said.
“We know that nutrition during pregnancy is very important for the healthy development of the baby and can certainly be important for their development into adulthood,” she added.
Lifestyle health is also important for pregnant women or women who expect to get pregnant.

Mothers who quit smoking during pregnancy can expect to deliver much healthier babies with higher birth weights.