Friday, August 7, 2009

The end of WBW

I would like to give a shout out to La Leche League International. A wonderful group dedicated to educating moms and families about breastfeeding. I didn't go to my first LLL meeting until Bug was 14 months old. I wish that I had gone before then. The support is a phenomenal help to maintaining a breastfeeding relationship! If you are interested, please look up your local meetings and go!

Another topic I wanted to address during WBW is breastfeeding and the law. LLLI has a great resource center for learning about breastfeeding legalities. I think it is very important for breastfeeding mothers to know their rights. This is especially true when it comes to where women can breastfeed. Many women are lead to believe that they aren't allowed to breastfeed in public. They are often humiliated and forced to nurse their babies in solitude, sometimes even in public restrooms. It is regretable that our society does not accept breastfeeding, while at the same time accepting the blatant pornography that shows up on our televisions and in our grocery store check out lines! Click here for a state by state guide on breastfeeding laws. And don't be afraid to teach others!

We should do all we can to promote a healthier vision of breastfeeding throughout the whole world. It is so important. It is the best way to feed babies. It is an excellent way to comfort. It protects and creates healthy relationships. It is also a huge help in times of disaster and tragedy. World Breastfeeding Week 2009 addresses this specifically and asks us if we are ready. If we can support and help mothers to understand and love breastfeeding, we can confidently say, "We are ready!"

2 comments:

TopHat said...

I've had a great World Breastfeeding Week. Reading all the articles and stuff on the Interwebs this week has been such a boost to me! That's also why I go to LLL every month- breastfeeding support boost!

* said...

WBW is making me wish that I was still breastfeeding. (sob)

I can't imagine how I could've bonded with my four children without it. And when I had my twins, I couldn't imagine standing in the grocery store aisle, undone already in every way, trying to figure out bottles & formula like so many other mamas.

Four kids in all, I never used formula. Ever. My body, my boobs did it all and for that I'm forever grateful.