Photo © Flickr user Tim & Selena Middleton
Personally, I think we should create laws offering free breastfeeding support, early-on, in hospitals and birthing centers and any nursing consultations should include basic information about a mother’s right to breastfeed in public, plus offer tips about how to successfully breastfeed in public. Sure many hospitals provide some breastfeeding help, but how much. Seriously, where I gave birth there was one breastfeeding counselor and she worked part-time only. I also think that employees should be trained on breastfeeding rights, since mothers are everywhere. I like the idea of nurse-ins as a measure of support and I also like that they call-out lame businesses who put down mothers, but I don’t feel they’re a good example of what the average mother deals with on a daily basis. I think we can do a lot more. To support breastfeeding try the following:
- Learn about your state’s breastfeeding laws.
- Learn about workplace breastfeeding laws.
- Keep up with current breastfeeding laws.
- Find your congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives and then contact your Congressperson, letting them know that you support breastfeeding legislation and they should as well.
- If you’re a mama-to-be, choose a midwife and a hospital or birth center that supports breastfeeding, both choices mean you’re more likely to breastfeed successfully.
- If you’re a breastfeeding mama, don’t let slow legislation, breastfeeding problems or rude people stop you from breastfeeding. Find a breastfeeding support group if you need to, but know that breastfeeding issues can be overcome and that breast milk is the best food for your baby.
Do you think nurse-ins create positive awareness about breastfeeding in public or not? Let us know in the comments.
Photo © Flickr user _Shward_
