Hello everyone,
I'm a bit behind in reading Lactnet but the recent post on this topic was
right on! In addition to supporting the "mama" groups, join your local
affiliate, even if you can't regularly attend meetings. In Illinois we are
fortunate to have many opportunities to "think globally, act locally" with
our breastfeeding promotion task forces and three ILCA affiliates to choose
from.
    May I also suggest joining other professional organization such as AWHONN
or NANN (if you work in neonatal settings) the like to be more "vocal" about
breastfeeding as a priority in all MCH settings? Speak up at department
meetings and staff meetings, or community settings like church and school
organizations about breastfeeding? Our local daycare center, based at the
church I attend, has had several breastfed babies in their care and I spoke
to the staff members, casually and informally about the needs of breastfed
babies and how to care and feed stored human milk. It helps that our pastor's
wife is a nurse who knows me and knows what I do!
    When I was president of the local parents organization at the grammar
school my girls attended, I changed the "policy" on allowing mothers with
babies to help out at school events. When moms indicated "they would love to
help, but have a baby at home" I would tell them they could bring the baby if
they were in a sling or back pack, and could meet their needs while working
with the older kids.  I then casually asked if they were nursing.....
Maybe we CAN change the world?
Mary Kay Smith, IBCLC
Romeoville IL near Chicago

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