Hello,  my name is Carrie.  I am a Breast-feeding Counselor with the
University of Texas Medical Branch WIC program.  I am new to the
Lactnet--this is my introduction.  I have 3 children whom I have
successfully breastfed.  I have nearly 70 months of breast-feeding
experience.  I also have been homeschooling for the past 7 years.

I have been trying to set up some various things at our clinic to promote
World Breast-feeding week.  I thought that it would be a good idea to have
a rally at our County Courthouse.  Several things happened in the process
of planning this function that disturbed me.

I thought that it would be wonderful if our mayor could come and read a
proclamation.  He told me that he would not feel comfortable speaking at a
function that would be about breast-feeding.  He said that he didn't have
anything against breast-feeding, but he just wouldn't feel comfortable.
That kinda bothered me.

I also thought that I could get our boy scout troop to help at the rally.
I basically got the same response.  I thought that I could do some sort of
age appropriate activity for our cub scout group.  The response that I got
from my co-leader was that she didn't feel that that would be appropriate
and that some parents would be affended--they put it in the same catogory
as sex education.  I could not believe this.

I'd like to know what all of you feel about this.  I feel that it would be
a great idea to talk to children about breast-feeding.  We are in fact
planning on having a coloring contest at our clinic.  This seems to be
okay.  Why do people associate breast-feeding with sex--I know, I know
because women's breasts are portrayed that way in our society.  Why not
start with your young people so that they can have healthy attitudes
growing up.

How are we ever going to promote breast-feeding and increase breast-feeding
numbers with this kind of mentality.

Let me know
Thanks,
Carrie
Breast-feeding Peer Counselor
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