Hi folks,

Here's a copy of the NOW statement from their web site.

- Dia


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MIRA WEINSTEIN, 202-331-0066 x705

NOW APPRECIATES AAP RECOMMENDATIONS ON BREAST FEEDING, CALLS ON BUSINESS AND
SOCIETY TO SUPPORT FINDINGS
December 3, 1997

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.