28/10/2025

Network of exchanges on breastfeeding, without conflicts of interest and without commercial influence, for the prevention programme Walk and eat smart! of the Canton of Geneva.

Objectives

In response to a request from the Canton of Geneva as part of its “Walk, eat smart” prevention programme, and in line with GIFA’s mission, we have created the “breastfeeding platform”, now renamed the “Geneva Breastfeeding Network”. The Network aims to

1- Bring together all actors in contact with the mother and her family, to share information, network and provide support regarding breastfeeding, in compliance with the International Code, without conflicts of interest and without commercial aims.

2- Disseminate the idea of the continuum, i.e. that breastfeeding is an integral part of the pregnancy-birth-breastfeeding continuum, it is a physiological, immunological but also psychological continuum.

“GIFA – Breastfeeding afternoon”

Launched in 2022, the “Breastfeeding Afternoons” are online training and exchange sessions (in French). Their aim is to bring together the many skills and goodwill that are scattered across the canton of Geneva. Each “Breastfeeding Afternoon” is devoted to a specific theme.

Next event

• Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 1:00–3:00 p.m. (online) The Zoom link will be published four days in advance here.
• Title: Breastfeeding and the birth of a father
• Speaker: Laurent Nguyen, perinatal peer support professional, MenCare Suisse Romande representative, co-founder of the Collectif Santé Mentale Périnatale (Perinatal Mental Health Collective).
• Content: Paternal involvement is a key factor in successful breastfeeding and, more generally, in family health. This webinar offered by MenCare will address current data on the role of fathers in breastfeeding, barriers to their involvement, and concrete strategies for better including them in professional practice. A time to reflect, equip, and strengthen the place of fathers at the heart of perinatal care.
• If you are interested in this topic, see also our page Dads and breastfeeding.

Last Event

• “Breastfeeding Afternoon” on Tuesday 07 October 2025, 1-3pm online Title: Fertility and breastfeeding
  -First hour: Return of fertility after childbirth.
  -Second hour: LAM (Lactation and Amenorrhea Method): natural contraception during amenorrhea while fully breastfeeding.
  Speaker: Dr. Tatjana Barras-Kubski, FMH internal medicine, general medicine, and homeopathy SSMH, and above all passionate about natural family planning, including LAM. For the documents shared by the speaker, please check here.
• “Breastfeeding Afternoon” on Tuesday 25 March 2025, 1-3pm online Breastfeeding and Medication, with information on galactogogues, with Claire Girollet, Pharmacist IBCLC.
• “Breastfeeding Afternoon”on Tuesday 25 November 2024, 1-3pm onlin. Title Solids for the breastfed Baby, with MD Hélène Leyder
• The 4th “Breastfeeding Afternoon” took place on Tuesday 12 March 2024, 1-3pm. Details are published here.
• The 3rd “Breastfeeding Afternoon” took place on Tuesday 21 November 2023 1pm-3pm, Training on the theme: Composition of breast milk and its bio-dynamic role. Speakers: Véronique Darmangeat (Centre allaitement Paris) and Aurélie Guillemot (Centre de nutrition infantile CNI, HUG Genève).
• To receive information about future breastfeeding afternoons and other GIFA activities, please sign up for the Réseau-Allaitement newsletter by sending an email to info@gifa.org.

For all other events please check the Breastfeeding Training page and the Events page

GIFA Video 2021: 5 most commun breastfeeding problems

Tutorial video video produced by GIFA in 2021 lasting 15 minutes. Feel free to use and share.

Deontology and ethics

At a time when much is being said about the conflicts of interest affecting the world of health, and in the light of the revelations in the Lancet Breastfeeding Series 2023 about the aggressive marketing and overriding influence of infant food manufacturers, we feel it is important to point out the following

• The WHO FAQ published in 2020 on the Role and responsibility of health professionals in relation to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
• The GIFA information brochure on the International Code and its scope in 2021 (in French)
• The IBCLC Code of Professional Conduct. This 2022 document can serve as a model for other health professions.
• See also our Conflicts of interest page.

History of the activities of the Geneva breastfeeding network

Available in French, please check here Latest Newsletter September 2023

Poster 2021 – Réseau allaitement Genève

• A4 format with QR Code that takes you to the information page for parents.
• PDF file or paper copies on request to info@gifa.org