Let's look at the state and federal laws legislation being proposed and
sometimes passed.  While I support it, what is wrong with this picture?
It's disappointing that we have to inact laws to clarify what we've known
for millennia, that breastfeeding is not a criminal behavior and that it is
a normal female body function.  It is common sense to spend more money on
promoting and supporting breastfeeding in our WIC populations instead of
providing formula because of the long term health benefits.  And then a
woman is asked to leave the US Capitol building because she is
breastfeeding her hungry baby???  I'm sorry to hear this happened but it
really demonstrates how serious the problem is.  She probably exposed no
more of her breast than is seen on Baywatch-probably less!  Even if she
did, so what!?  She's feeding the baby!

Formula promotion, particularly in the health care setting, is another
problem that is being changed slowly.  In our hospital, we no longer
distribute the formula, coupons or educational  literature but the bags are
still around.  Change takes time and I hope someday soon, they will be gone
too.  Getting them out of the physicians offices in the prenatal setting is
another obstacle to be overcome.

The "breasts are sexual objects" attitude that permeates our society is
another obstacle.  But I see it changing too as I see more women nursing
quite comfortably and confidently in public.

Just last night, my family went to a parade downtown and my husband really
surprised me.  A woman was standing right next to him nursing her baby
(around six months) in a sling.  There was an older woman behind him that
said to her friend, "I can't believe she doing THAT in front of God and
everybody" (the baby was a little fussy until she got settled in her sing
and started nursing).  My husband turned to her and said, "That's how God
intended it and she's not bothering me at all."  I had to bend down and
hold my kids because I couldn't help but laugh.  I think my jaw was hitting
the pavement.  My husband is very supportive of breastfeeding but it's
taken him two kids and being around his breastfeeding sisters and in laws
to get comfortable with the public aspects of it.

Our local breastfeeding coalition has set up a tent at the county
fairgrounds this week so it will be interesting to see what the local
response will be to it too.  We'll pass that info along later this weekend
as I'm sure we'll be going by there tonight.

Maurenne Griese, RNC, BSN, CCE, CBE
Birth and Breastfeeding Resources  http://www.childbirth.org/bbfr
Manhattan, KS  USA
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