In response to the many letters they have received regarding their
unsupportive stance on breastfeeding, the National Organization for
Women today released the following official statement on the new AAP
Breastfeeding Guidelines. In my view, it is a weak repackaging of their
previous "unofficial" statements on this matter. I don't see it as much
of an improvement. In fact, it clarifies the fact that NOW just doesn't
"get" the critical importance of breastfeeding, characterizing it as
little more than a neutral lifestyle choice.

I hope that breastfeeding advocates will continue to contact NOW
concerning this new statement (even if you already wrote them a letter
once). Pay particular attention to the second half of the following
press release.

They can be contacted at [log in to unmask]

Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested.

Katie Allison Granju
Knoxville, TN

************************************************************************

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT:        MIRA WEINSTEIN
December 3, 1997                                        Extension 705

        NOW APPRECIATES AAP RECOMMENDATIONS ON BREAST FEEDING,
        CALLS ON BUSINESS AND SOCIETY TO SUPPORT FINDINGS

Calling the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations long-overdue
recognition of the importance of breast feeding, NOW Action Vice
President
Elizabeth Toledo called on businesses and society to take heed.

"It is a marker of progress that yesterday the medical community spoke
out
in favor of longer-term breast feeding, whereas many women in my
mother's
generation were strongly discouraged from nursing their children at
all,"
Toledo said.  In fact, when pregnant with her first child, Toledo was
the
only person in her birthing class whose mother had breast fed her
children.

"The AAP's announcement gives women more information to make important
decisions about their health and their baby's health," Toledo said.
Citing the barriers for many women, Toledo called on the business
community to help implement the pediatricians' findings.  For instance,
she asked why breast feeding mothers do not have access to facilities
and
equipment through their workplace.  "When women do not have to hide in
the
bathroom or in a corner to breast feed or pump, we will have come a long
way toward real respect for the job of being a mother," she said.

Toledo also urged the public to put the medical findings in accurate
perspective, saying the choice to breast feed is a personal decision;
the
factors are different for every mother.  "Some women find it very
difficult to breast feed because of financial, logistical, health, or
other reasons.  Some women are able to overcome those obstacles, some
aren't.  We shouldn't use these findings to judge some mothers as good'
and others bad' because of their decision on this one issue of their
baby's health care."

NOW executive vice-president Kim Gandy had a similar reaction.  "I
nursed
both of my daughters, and it was possible because I work for an employer
that made it possible.  But most employers don't provide those
resources,
and some actively take steps that make breast feeding impossible for
their
employees."  Gandy suggested that some of the difficulties would be
alleviated by greater public acceptance of nursing and pressure on
employers to provide pumping equipment, private space and adequate
breaks
for nursing mothers.

        Link to this release at
http://www.now.org/press/12-97/12-03-97.html.