It has been a great week for us!

Due to the fact that the mall we use to celebrate WBW does not allow
presentations to begin in the middle of the week, we have had our week a
little early - set-up was last Sunday and pickup was this Sunday.

The success has been more than our committee ever hoped for

La Leche League had a booth during the entire time answering questions and
helping moms.  They also had next to them  a roped-off section with my
oriental rug, four rockers and a table to allow tired moms to sit a rock
and nurse - but it was not hidden - they were in plain sight.

Would you believe that by the end of the week the Mall Manager asked us how
they could continue this and be baby-friendly?  We are ecstatic and ask you
for any suggestions or ideas (5 steps instead of 10) for "mall
baby-friendlyness".

Lactamar is a breast pump rental and product sales organization that had a
booth continuously there as well as Kimberly Clark giving away Huggies and
showing their breastfeeding video made here call "un nuevo comienzo" - a
new beginning.

A fourth booth was the "community booth".  Various hospitals paid to be on
the floor one day of the week - and we gave the booth to non-profit
hospitals also.  The nurses and dieticians gave information.  WIC was there
on Saturday with an IBCLC-RD answering questions.

On top of all that, various "chats" were scheduled throughout the week -
everything from taking care of your back during pregnancy to first aid for
babies and information on birth control and breastfeeding.  Various La
Leche League and other support groups also moved their support groups to
the mall.  

It was noisy, it was difficult to talk at times, but in bringing the
information to the mall we made contact with many who would never have seen
us if we had an activity dubbed "breastfeeding week" in a park or other
less traveled area (It helped that this is the week before school starts
here).  

Newspapers carried articles all week and even though there are some
mis-information we need to correct (someone said that pumps can spread
Hepatitis,  that you must buy a pump prior to delivery, and that you must
eat a diet rich in "tofu" - something any Puerto Rican will certainly turn
her nose up at)  in general the information was great, and the contact
numbers were continously available.

Mabel Montalvo of Mango Seed Social Marketing has become our "Carol Bryant"
doing studies (she needs a grant to do focus groups if anyone knows of a
resource, please let me know), and keeping us aware of the Marketing
viewpoint.

Leo Burnett, Inc.  here was very helpful - even donated a video ad they won
a prize with in Costa Rica to be used as a PSA - it's a little toddler
struggling with a bowling ball and finally getting a strike - then the
words "Breastfeeding is Extraordinary" - it really catches your attention -
then a telephone number to ask for help.  

Thursday the Secretary of Health had a Press Conference and declared they
were succeeding in increasing breastfeeding rates in WIC (now measured at
45% - but realize this is defined as ONE breastfeeding a day - but it's
still a lot better than NONE).  She brought tears to my eyes mentioning her
(mid-20's) daughter who died just this year from complications related to a
traffic accident - who breastfed her baby 2 years.  They are also working
on getting the public hospitals to work towards baby-friendliness - at
least over half have breastfeeding rooms - which is a lot better than last
year when moms only touched their babies upon discharge!  (Dr. Parrilla was
able to put in a plug that this was an "interim" solution until rooming-in
could be established.)

Friday was the best of all - even though we were stood up by the first lady
of PR who had said she'd come, we had a great group of people from WIC, the
Departments of Health of PR and San Juan, and legislators who are still
trying to pass the "working woman's breastfeeding/pumping leave act".  La
Leche League of PR was presented with the "Breastfeeding Proclamation"
signed by the governor.    With all these people together a lot of
different contacts were made which will be used to follow up on more
continuous breastfeeding support in the future.  

Am feeling very positive and tired....

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL  (and I wore all those hats this
week!)
Puerto Rico
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