#WBW2016 Positive News, 5 August
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The importance of breastfeeding support - Anna Burbidge, from La Leche League, sheds light on the vital importance of breastfeeding in giving children the best start in life.
India launches MAA-- a programme to promote breastfeeding - New Delhi: Government on Friday launched National Breastfeeding Promotion Programme— MAA (mothers’ absolute affection) to ensure adequate awareness is generated among masses, especially mothers, on the benefits of breastfeeding.
Sunderland world record breastfeeding attempt to give mums confidence - More than 60 Sunderland, England mums took part in the world’s biggest latch-on in Keel Square, joining thousands of other mothers across the globe to simultaneously begin breastfeeding at 10.30am.
15 Photos That Celebrate The Beauty Of Breastfeeding - Two photographers created a breastfeeding image contest. These are the stunning finalists.
ADVOCATE OF THE DAY
Kiki Valentine is the #WBW2016 Day 6 Advocate of the Day.
"My son was born in May 2014 by way of a scheduled Cesarean due to placenta previa. In the whirlwind that was my postpartum life navigating new motherhood -- a partner who did not get parental leave and would work twelve hour days six days a week, recovering from major surgery, the struggles of getting the hang of breastfeeding and really leaning on my La Leche League (LLL) leader for guidance, the isolation of being far from family during this massive transition and unparalleled learning curve -- I kept thinking to myself and saying out loud, 'boy this is totally NOT like in the moves! Where is my casserole? Who is coming to hold the baby while I shower?' Thankfully there were villages of women in Facebook groups to help. They were instrumental those first few weeks and months of being a first time mom. "When I found out about the annual Subway Caravan in New York City and that it started because a mother was arrested for breastfeeding her baby in the subway, I thought it was a really important event for me to attend. There is a press conference at City Hall and then all of the nursing mothers walked together to the subway, making a pilgrimage on the A-Train to Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn -- the Breastfeeding Empowerment Zone -- for a celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. "I love and wanted to share this picture of me feeding my son on the steps of Manhattan's City Hall because it was the first time I put on a dress and heels since being pregnant and reminds me to 'expect the unexpected' on this journey: little did I know some photos taken of me that morning would not only capture a beautiful moment in my new life with a baby but circumnavigate the globe countless times as an image used to supplement articles written about the benefits of breastfeeding. It was also used in a debate on Rachel Zoe's television show in a debate about whether breastfeeding in public is a 'trend or tragic' (what a silly debate)! The photo was taken by photographer JB Nicholas who, at the time, worked for the Daily News. It was very hot and humid, I'm wearing about 60 pounds of extra weight, and I had a very unfortunate condition called PUPPPS which was basically a very itchy red rash exacerbated by exposure to the sun, hence the umbrella to shade us. As I sat there nursing my son I couldn't believe that I made it to City Hall and nine weeks into my journey as a mother and that I had so many invisible supporters around the city and around the world to help me along. I felt lifted by that. That's what is happening in this picture. "Now, 26 months later, I'm still nursing my son and I stand by the New York City Breastfeeding leadership council's good work, the NYC Department of Health and birth workers as well as other advocates throughout the city, State, country, and world who support the rights and needs of lactating women. I have dedicated my life's work to making sure there are lactation spaces available for women who work outside the home, defending and protecting the rights of lactating women, supporting paid family maternity and paternity leave, supporting The New York Milk Bank and milk donors, being vocal about fathers rights, and standing with community and civic leaders at every level who tirelessly work toward making the city and country's future an amazing place for our children and generations to come. I'm partnered with the Brooklyn Borough President to host the borough's first Global Big Latch On Saturday and we're taking the opportunity to offer voter registration because the stakes are particularly high for this Presidential election. Plus, now our daughters will know they too can hold the position of 'the most powerful person on the world'. It's an amazing time to be a mother and an American!"
DAILY ACTIONS
The Daily Action for 6 August is to share information about your local breastfeeding laws to social media.
In the United States, you can find your breastfeeding law(s) by visiting nationwidenursein.com, checking your local breastfeeding coalition webpage, or looking up keywords like "breastfeeding", "nursing", and "lactation" in your state and local code.
Outside of the United States, you can visit your local breastfeeding coalition webpage as well as your state/province/prefecture or national code to check for the text of the laws that apply where you are.
The Bonus Action for 6 August is to contact your local law enforcement's non-emergency line and inform them about breastfeeding law.
Now that you have your local breastfeeding laws on hand, go an extra step further and help your local community. Look up the non-emergency number if you do not have it on hand, and save it to your phone (for this use and if needed for future use).
Why would we want to do this? There has been a rash of incidents where breastfeeding women who are legally present are escorted from premises by police OR are told by police officers that they may not feed their children in public. With the police sworn to uphold the law, in these cases they did not know their local breastfeeding law. If they did, then these mothers very likely would have not experienced these incidents.
The following steps will help you as you make your call:
1. Call the non-emergency number.
2. Introduce yourself as a member of the local community.
3. Explain that there have been incidents recently where breastfeeding mothers have not been treated in accordance with the law by police.
4. Provide the text of your local law(s) over the phone.
5. Thank the police department for their time and wish them a happy World Breastfeeding Week.
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