Remote breastfeeding support helps parents in BC

19 November 2025

High Angle Portrait of a Cute Asian Baby Feeding from the Breast of Her Mother. Intimate Moment Between New Mother and Infant Showing Motherly Love, Tenderness, and Unconditional Affection.

Breastfeeding can be one of the most challenging parts of a new parent’s journey.

“It’s more difficult than you might think,” says Dr. Heidi Fan, a maternal and child health researcher. “Some people may not have enough milk, and their babies cry. They may have problems with the baby attaching to the breast to feed, known as latching. There’s also potential for pain and infections. These kinds of problems need to be solved early for them to have a successful breastfeeding journey.”

Accessing help is not always simple.

“Some people may live in a rural area, hours away from support. And when you seek breastfeeding support, you need fast help,” Heidi adds.

That’s why Heidi looks at how telehealth and remote support during the newborn period can make a difference for families. From phone consultations with lactation specialists to multilingual virtual support, many parents say remote care is valuable.

While she was a postdoctoral research trainee in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Heidi evaluated the success of remote breastfeeding support. She surveyed about 1,000 parents across Canada and interviewed 50 parents and 27 healthcare providers.

About one in five parents Heidi surveyed had received remote or virtual support, and most participants preferred videoconferencing with specialists. It enabled parents to get help without leaving their home — a task that’s logistically challenging with a newborn, especially if older children need looking after, too.

Remote support available in multiple languages also made it easier for families to access culturally safe care.

Healthcare providers added that face-to-face, hands-on appointments for breastfeeding challenges were not always needed — help could be just a phone call away.

Evaluating the success of remote services is a first step. Based on her findings, Heidi hopes to design a remote breastfeeding support program that could be implemented across Canada.

Dr. Heidi Fan

Dr. Heidi Fan is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Manitoba, where she is developing interventions to improve breastfeeding outcomes.
Michael Smith Health Research BC supported Heidi through a Research Trainee award while she was a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan.