I want to share an experience I had last Sunday, staffing a breastfeeding
exhibit at a large Baby Expo Fair in a hotel convention center from 10 AM to
4 PM.  (I had one other person at a time with me for some of the hours, and
was by myself for about 2 hours.  Others staffed it on Saturday).
 
We were dubious ahead of time, fearing that it might be a big
formula-promotion event.  We wondered if it would be worth our time. We were
not going to respond to the invitation to take part, but when the large
exhibit fee was waived (we are a non-profit), we decided to try it.

People who came to the fair paid $4 U.S. to get in (grandmothers were $3,
children under 12 were free).  We were booth #414, so this was a big expo,
filled with displays of cribs, car seats, hospitals' birthing centers, toys,
baby clothes, etc.  I didn't get to look at all the other exhibits, as we
were so busy all day, but I saw no formula in evidence anywhere.

What made this a very rewarding experience was the chance to talk with so
many new parents we ordinarily might not reach.   This occurred because all
who attended the fair got a card on entering, on which they could affix a
red sticker from each booth they visited.  They then could enter their
filled-up card in a drawing for prizes.  Everyone came to our booth in order
to get another sticker on their card.  I was then able to ask, "What
questions do you have about breastfeeding?" as I gave them their stickers.

We also wore Maya Wrap baby carriers, with either a real baby in it or a
life-sized doll.  Thus, we were able to model baby-wearing and show people
how to use the wraps in various ways.  (We had these for sale, along with La
Leche League information, books, handouts, and LLL Tear-off breastfeeding
information sheets that we gave away for free.  We also had a photo display
called "Let's Celebrate Breastfeeding.")

Among the questions/concerns that we dealt with during just this one day
were a mother with her 1 week old baby who felt like her baby was nursing
all day long and she was longing for the day when her baby would nurse less
(I know that you are wondering why she was out at a Baby Fair some distance
from her home town); several mothers due to deliver first babies in the next
few weeks who had not thought a lot about breastfeeding as yet; a woman who
would soon be adopting a baby (her first) of about 12 months and wanted
information on the possibility of breastfeeding; a mother of a 2 month old
who weaned 1 week ago because of taking pain meds for dental surgery, and
who was interested to learn that she could relactate; a mother expecting her
first baby who has been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and whose
midwife had told her to gather information on how this would affect
breastfeeding; a mother of a 4 month old whose pediatrician put the baby on
iron supplements "because she is breastfeeding" (no hemoglobin check was
done) and the mother is returning to work and if she supplements with
formula, wonders how the iron-fortified formula would affect the baby's iron
level on top of the iron supplements; a mother whose employer will not let
her pump at work; a teen mother (and her mother) who is due in
December and plans to try breastfeeding; 2 mothers who gave up nursing
previous babies because of severe mastitis, both of whom want to try again
but want to avoid a repeat of the problem; a couple who just learned they
are expecting twins; a mother who was not able to breastfeed her now-12
month old and was grieving this loss (she cried when telling us about it);
another mother also grieving the loss of breastfeeding.  Besides this, lots
of fathers who were interested in how they could bond with their babies.  (I
like to tell them that they are the very first one to teach their baby that
love doesn't have to come with food).  Lots of grandmothers who wanted to
tell stories about how they breastfed, or how they wanted to and didn't
succeed.  We took down phone numbers and addresses and emails so we could
follow up and send any resources we didn't have on hand.  We handed out lots
of La Leche League meeting schedules.  It was really an amazing experience.

 I have staffed breastfeeding booths at World Breastfeeding Week when it was
hard to get the attention of people walking by, but in this case I think it
was the need for red stickers that initially got people to come over to talk
to us, and then they become really engaged.  I should say that it rained all
day, so lots of people came to the Expo.

As tiring as this day was, I felt like we had provided a lot of help and
information and made a difference for people we wouldn't ordinarily get to
talk with.  I encourage others to consider participating in events like this
if you are able.

Anne Altshuler, RN, MS, IBCLC, LLL leader in Madison, WI

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