What’s the latest in breastfeeding news these days? Here are a few highlights, which offer opportunities to help create a more breastfeeding-friendly world:
* Best for Babes launched a national hotline for breastfeeding mamas who experience nursing in public harassment. Program this number into your phone now so you have it available should you or someone you know or meet need it: 1-855-NIP-FREE. You can also support the initiative by making a donation. As a thank you for a $3 donation you will receive 10 Thank You for Breastfeeding in Public cards which include the hotline number.
Read the back story to the “Nursing In Public” Harassment Hotline. And find a summary of the first month of calls here. The latter link also mentions something I’m fortunate to personally be involved in supporting – a Best for Babes’ initiative to assist harassed breastfeeding mamas to persuade offending corporations and organizations to institute policy changes and employee training initiatives that support breastfeeding customers and clients.
* The Healthy Baby Bag is a breastfeeding support bag that has been distributed to more than 600 birthing facilities in all 50 states. The antidote to free bags of formula that have been the staple handout at hospitals across this country for way too long, the Healthy Baby Bag is an initiative of Cottonwood Kids, which produces custom breastfeeding-friendly products to help birthing centers meet the needs of new families. Check it out at: www.cottonwood-kids.com
And suggest birthing facilities for them to next approach about their breastfeeding support program at: https://www.facebook.com/cottonwoodkids
* The needs-to-improve-most award goes to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which serves as the Americas’ regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the health agency of the Organization of American States. PAHO recently accepted $150,000 from Nestle, which is known for violating the WHO Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes, among other private sector giants which pose numerous potential conflicts of interest. Read Annie at PhD in Parenting‘s great summary of the battle playing out and sign a petition to urge PAHO to return the Nestle funds.
Please share anything else newsworthy!
Breastfeeding Friendly 