Help me make breastfeeding normal again
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Real Yummy Mummies? They breastfeed.
Who or what is a yummy mummy anyway? Surely one can't be yummy in the truest sense unless one is lactating. Quite.
See, my gripe is that the media is quite comfortable examining ad nauseum the minute detail of today's young, clever, blonde twenty- or thirtysomething mums who in the name of yumminess are seen pushing empty prams around Portobello Rd in their Manolos whilst nanny dear bottlefeeds the baby and cleans up the poop and sick. And we, the consumers of this media bile are quite happy being informed of the latest hair, cardi, drug-addled-boyfriend, crappy-yet-catchy song or inane blathering nonsense issuing from our favourite chavtastic yummy. But, on a hint of a whisper of the word 'breastfeeding', we run a mile. We are repulsed, freaked out, scared and disgusted. But from a semantic point of view, surely only a breastfeeding mummy is truly yummy. Oh - some of our media dahlings do breastfeed. And that's great. But the media can't sell that, can they? Instead of using a prime opportunity to 'sell' the idea of breastfeeding as a fantastic and miraculous way to protect and nurture a child, all we get is the odd sarcastic aside when a celebrity puts her extreme weight loss postpartum down to breastfeeding. It's a wasted opportunity to promote some role models. Sad, yes, that today's young women are growing up in a world where they need to depend on celebrities for their role models, but, since this is the case, why not use that reality to do good work. Use the wiles the formula manufacturers have honed for so long to turn the tables and 'market' breast milk back to the next generation.[Yup, Emma Thompson did breastfeed] How you can help
Breastfed Babies Eating Out...
In 2006 my dear friend Amie Faal and I started a local campaign in our hometown of Bristol, UK, called 'Breastfed Babies Eat Out.' We signed up 25 eating establishments and shops who agreed to display the BBEO sticker welcoming breastfeeding mums. I was thrilled in 2008 when the local NCT (National Childbirth Trust) got behind the campaign with their own volunteers so pound the streets signing up new members. Fab work everyone. The new list is:Acappella 184c Wells Road, Knowle
Angel Inn Long Ashton
Arnolfini Waterfront
Ask Park Street
At Bristol Waterfront
Better Food St Werburgs
Blue Juice 39 Cotham Hill
Bordeaux Quay Waterfront
Born Gloucester Road
Boston Tea Party Clifton
Boston Tea Party Park Street
Boswells Café Knowle
Bristol Guild Park Street
Café Delight 189 Gloucester Road
Café Gusto Clifton Down
Café Kino Ninetree Hill
Cake 1b Pitville Place, Cotham Hill
Cheltenham Road Library
Circles 65 North St, Bedminster, BS3. tel 9662622
Coffee #1 Gloucester Road
Coffee #1 Clifton
Cuba Ice 220 North St,Southville,BS3 1JD.tel 9639222
Debenhams Broadmead
Deco Lounge Cotham Hill
Easton Leisure Centre Easton
Ferry Station Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA. Tel 3763942
Footprints Centre Knowle west
Fresh and Wild 85 Queens Road, clifton Triangle
Goldbrick House Park Street
Grain House YHA Narrow Quay
Grounded St George
Kebele Social Centre Easton
Knowle Health Park Knowle west
Knowle West Early Years Knowle west
Kuvuka Café Stokes Croft
La Barrique 225 Gloucester Road
La Ruca Gloucester Road
Lakeside Café Portishead
Masala 18 North St, Bedminster BS3 1HW Tel 9636062
Mothercare Eastville
Mothercare Avonmeads
Munch Box Crow Lane, Henbury
Museum Queens Road
Nando's Park Street
Oasis Café Southville centre
Planet Pizza Gloucester Road
Primrose Café clifton
Pronto Café Gloucester Road
Quartier Vert Whiteladies Road
Rocotillos Triangle
Sainsbury's Black Castle, Brislinton
Savana 273 North St, Ashton, BS3 1JN. tel 9660088
Severnshed Waterfront
Southville Deli
Spice Route Gloucester Road
St George Library
St Werburgs City Farm St Werburgs
Tesco Eastville
Thali Place St Marks Road
The Bristolian Picton Street
The Folk House Park Street
The Friary Clifton Down
the Riverside Garden Centre Southville
Tinto Lounge Gloucester Road
Watershed Waterfront
Windmill Hll City Farm Windmill Hill
Zest Gloucester Road
Zuzu's kitchen Stokes Croft
While the orginal 2006 signups were:
AVENUE Cafe, 96 Henleaze Rd
@BRISTOL, Harbourside, 0845 345 1235, www.at-bristol.org.uk
BISTRO LA BARRIQUE, 225 Gloucester Rd, 0117 944 5500
BLUE JUICE, 39 Cotham Hill, 0117 973 4800
BOCACINA, 184c Wells Rd, Lower Knowle, www.bocacina.co.uk
CAFE DELIGHT, 189 Gloucester Rd, 0117 944 1133
CAFE UNLIMITED, 209 Gloucester Rd, www.cafeunlimited.co.uk
CAKE, 1b Pitville Place, Cotham Hill, 0117 973 2007, www.cakecake.co.uk
FRESH & WILD, 85 Queens Rd,Clifton Triangle, 0117 910 5930, www.freshandwild.com
GOLDBRICK HOUSE, 69 Park St, 0117 945 1950, www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk
GRAIN HOUSE Cafe Bar @ YHA, 14 Narrow Quay, 0117 922 1659
HALO, Gloucester Rd
LA BARRIQUE, 225 Gloucester Rd, 0117 944 5500
LA BOHEME, Cotham Hill
NANDO's, 49 Park St, 0117 929 9263, www.nandos.co.uk
PLANET PIZZA, 187 Gloucester Rd, 0117 907 7112, www.planetpizza.co.uk
PRONTO CAFE, GLoucester Rd
QUARTIER VERT, 85 Whiteladies Rd, 0117 973 4482, www.quartiervert.co.uk
RIVERSTATION, The Grove, 0117 914 4434, www.riverstation.co.uk
ROCOTILLOS, 1 Queens Row (Triangle), 0117 929 7207
THE FOLK HOUSE CAFE, 40a Park St, 0117 907 7948
THE PICKLED ONION, 10 Cotham Hill, 0117 923 8840
WATERSHED CAFE BAR, 1 Canons Rd, Harbourside, Bristol, 0117 927 5101, www.watershed.co.uk
Shops and public places
BORN, 64 Gloucester Rd, 0117 924 5080, www.borndirect.com
MOTHERCARE (& Cafe), Eastgate centre, Eastville, 0117 951 8200
THE NATURAL NURSERY, 209 North St, Southville, 0845 890 1665, www.naturalnursery.co.uk
Links for when you need HELP!
helplines, charities, support
- Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (UK)
- One of the UK's breastfeeding support charities - peer counsellors, great and invaluable Yahoo chat group where mums and bf counsellors can discuss problems and issues.
- Little Angels Breastfeeding Support (UK)
- A fantastic peer support group based in the North of England where breastfeeding rates among young mums especially are bad.
- The Breastfeeding Network
- UK site offering help and support: you can phone a counsellor and find information and resources on all aspects of breastfeeding.
- NCT :: The National Childbirth Trust
- The best known breastfeeding/parenting charity in Europe. Valuable information, and huge network of breastfeeding counsellors with local branches and phone numbers. Parenting classes and fundraising too.
- La Leche League International: Breastfeeding Information and Support
- The La Leche League International mission is: To help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.{they are very pro-bf and anti premature weaning}
- National Breastfeeding Campaign (Ad Council materials) (USA)
- Help, information and past ads run to promote breastfeeding. A USA based-site by the department of health. Look, Tony Blair! See - you too, should be spending money on BF ads! Go ask George all about it.
- Fathers Direct - The National Information Centre on Fatherhood
- Fathers Direct is The National Information Centre on Fatherhood in the UK. Woohoo! Info for dads on all things, but also breastfeeding!
- Dr. Jack Newman's Articles on Mama Dearest
- Articles by JACK NEWMAN, MD, FRCPC, a Toronto pediatrician who has practised medicine since 1970. His articles are well known and published throughout the world. Here Canadian site Mama Dearest hosts an amazing collection of JN's articles and videos including the 'myths of breastfeeding' series. A must read.
Links for when you need INSIGHT and sometimes HUMOUR!
Breastfeeding gems from around the web
- Best Beginnings (UK)
- Leading BF campaigner Alison Baum's new site. She is acting as a central point to coordinate the campaign for greater support for breastfeeding in the UK. You MUST go and sign up to support the Breastfeeding Manifesto!! I have been working closely with Alison on all aspects of design. She has been working miracles in spearheading a coalition of over 35 organisations now known as the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition. It includes 4 Royal Colleges, plus the leading BF charities in the UK.
- UK BF Manifesto
- This is the home of the Breastfeeding Manifesto, a document outlining 7 key objectives the UK Government should adopt to promote BF. It was sent to Tony Blair and all MPs in Oct 2006, and has had its official launch in Parliament during UK breastfeeding week in May 2007.It is rapidly gaining support among MPs and members of the public; if you go to the site you can download a pdf of the manifesto, check whether your local MP has signed up, and add your own support.
- 101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child - The Natural Child Project
- 101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child by Leslie Burby. Need I say more?
- Hathor the Cow Goddess and the Evolution Revolution
- Absolutely unstoppable, unique and dead funny! Cartoons, blog and more.
- breastfeedingisnormal.org - Web Banners
- You must download these and put them on your webspace. I would if I could work it out. Great, pro-bf web banners, some of which made me laugh so hard I nearly peed my pants. Actually I did pee my pants. Ahem. Lots of serious and very useful info on here too.
- Express Yourself Mums - National Breastfeeding Survey
- If you can, fill out this survey commissioned by the excellent support and advocacy cite ExpressYourselfMums. A general breastfeeding and a workplace survey. They desperately need more respondents. Also a great selection of articles, products and help.
- Breastfeed.com: Articles: It's in the Bag
- Article about what every hospital should have: BF friendly goody bags for new mums.
- BREASTFEEDING AWAY FROM HOME
- The parenting guru Dr William Sears shares his thoughts and advice on Nursing in Public
Celebrities who breastfeed
real yummy mummies!
- Davina McCall (Big Brother presenter)
- Sadie Frost (UK actress and ex of Jude Law)
- Kate Beckinsale (UK actress)
- Tilda Swinton (seen on our screens as the witch in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
- Elle Macperson (UNICEF ambassador for breastfeeding)
- Lucy Lawless (Xena: warrior princess)
- Jerry Hall (need we say more)
- Sara Cox (Radio 1 DJ and ex party girl)
- Sharleen Spiteri (Lead singer of Texas)
- Emma Thompson (acclaimed UK actress)
- Liz Hurley (I think)
- Keely Shaye Smith (most famous for being Pierce Brosnan's wife)
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- Sarah Maclachlan
- Kate Winslet
- Angelina Jolie (still going strong I guess)
- Jools Oliver
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- anyone got any others? leave them in the guestbook, please. Especially those who have breastfed for 6 months or longer.
Cool Books for Real Yummy Mummies
(by real I mean lactating, honey)
Immunity Foods for Healthy Kids
Recipes for breastfeeding mums, babies, children and moody teens who won't eat but who could be fooled into drinking a smoothie. Great sections on superfoods, disease-specific recipes, plus not too scarey explanations of immunity and the importance of diet.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) 
The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
This is a must for every parent who doesn't feel that great leaving a baby to cry. The best thing about this book is that Pantley herself describes her own progress and uses herself as the guinea pig to formulate a series of suggestions to try. Unlike the Ford women who er, has no direct experience being a mother.
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 07/10/2009)
The Time Traveler's Wife
Just one of my favourite books of all time and good for having 'howly bags' as my dear friend Moss would say!
Amazon Price: $8.52 (as of 07/10/2009)
Baby Om: Yoga for Mothers and Babies
This is very cute and not at all intimidating. Yoga for 0-1 years to do with you as you regain [!] your pre-pregnancy body, and discover your baby actually loves being bounced on her tummy in the air and it helps her to do farts too!
Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 07/10/2009)
Healthy Mother, Better Breastfeeding
I've only just borrowed this from my library and am already sticking it full of post it notes. Very interesting section on 'where did our mothering instinct go?' inlcuding link between some mineral deficiences (magnesium and zinc) and motherly love deficiency. Hmmmmm, interesting....
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
on message: my tees at CafePress
all profit goes straight back into our campaign to promote breastfeeding
m_o_h_k mummy bib
Bib
Price: 7.50
m_o_h_k organic 'reduce food miles' tee
Organic Men's Fitted T-Shirt
Price: 29.50
m_o_h_k Trucker Hat
Trucker Hat
Price: 16.50
m_o_h_k Jr. twotone gert lush tee
Jr. Ringer T-Shirt
Price: 24.00
m_o_h_k Infant/Toddler mummy tee
Infant/Toddler T-Shirt
Price: 15.50
Get in touch
want me to add you? want to get into a group with me?
I'm a sucker for feedback. So go: feed. back. ta.
access2 wrote...
Wow! You should definitely submit this to The LaLeche League Group!
Posted April 01, 2009
danaseilhan wrote...
Here in the U.S. it is claimed that 75 percent of mothers breastfeed their babies. That may be true in hospital, but once they're out the rate steeply declines. I didn't get to bf my older child because I didn't know what I was doing and neither did the nurses who were supposed to know. I almost failed with my daughter (even the lactation consultants weren't much help) until she figured out Mom was always warm and always ready to go when she got hungry. Yes, newborns can use logic. :) She's four now and still nurses to sleep. I'm sure we'd be seen as freaks by those who went straight to formula or who nursed for six weeks. Well, they say the average weaning age worldwide is something like three or four years old. Think about how averages are calculated! :) Keep up the good work. 5 stars.
Posted February 18, 2009
Mortira wrote...
Formula was first intended to feed babies who would otherwise go hungry, and should never have become the norm. Thankfully, many doctors are getting with the program! Congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work! I'll feature this lens on my parenting lenses. 5 stars!
Posted October 14, 2008
herbie66 wrote...
Welcome to the 'Pregnancy and Baby' Group
( http://www.squidoo.com/groups/pregnancy-baby )
5 stars for your great lens!
Posted October 07, 2008
YenChan wrote...
Go girl! I'm writing from Malaysia where breastfeeding is getting popular, and I'm still breastfeeding my first and she turns 2 in Dec '08. I breastfeed EVERYWHERE! Discretion is key and who cares what people think! My daughter needs the goodness! :)
Posted September 25, 2008
Gale_10 wrote
I breast fed my daughter and no.1 son, currently feeding no.2 son, who is 17 months. I feel strongly about breastfeeding, and where I live in Scotland although its the law to be able to breastfeed anywhere, few people do. In some big shopping malls they have breastfeeding rooms, but I just feed my little one where I am, usually at the nearest seat. I think if other people see breastfeeders then more people are likely to breastfeed. I don't like the insinuation that we should be hidden away to breastfeed.
Posted September 08, 2008
SemperFidelis wrote...
Certainly normal in my books! I breast-fed all five of our children and their good health is probably a consequence of the immunities passed on to them while breast feeding.
Blessed by a Squid Angel today! :)
Colleen ~ www.squidoo.com/squid-angel
Posted September 01, 2008
Sistalove wrote...
Hi Jo, I absolutely loved your lens. I'm new to this lark so i've been noseying around and your is the best I've seen so far! I am still breastfeeding my 6 1/2 month old but was simularly gobsmacked by how ignorant people were about BF! I even had to fight off my some of my family as they kept saying my milk was not good enough! It was a very lonley time but I said balls to all of them and carried on. Now she is a gorgeous healthy girl! Doc even says she is advanced for her age!!! She's weaning now but I am still BF in between and I intend to keep going as long as I can. Well done you! Bottles are for muppets!
Posted August 19, 2008
Dr_Joe wrote...
Very informative.
Great lens. Rated it 5 stars.
Feel free to visit http://www.pregnancy-and-baby-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/
Posted July 01, 2008
Links for when you want to BLIND them with SCIENCE
facts, figures, research
- UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative
- Guidelines adopted by Baby-Friendly hospitals in the UK. Read how hospitals can become Baby-Friendly and find your nearest Baby-Friendly facility. (NB Baby Friendly in the context of breastfeeding)
- WHO | Weight-for-age (Girls)
- At last! Real growth charts based on breastfed babies not formula fed ones. For those who like charts, that is. Me, I prefer to use my eyes. Healthy, happy baby? check. Lots of wees and poos? check. Nice full face? check. Yippee!
- WHO | Weight-for-age (Boys)
- Thanks Travis - this one's for the boys
- Kathy Dettwyler's Thoughts on Breastfeeding
- Thoughts on Breastfeeding by Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D. This lady is THE guru on breastfeeding. Someone tells you you shouldn't be feeding your toddler? Refer them to Ms Dettwyler and she'll sort them out.
- Journal of Human Lactation
- Need we say more? A whole journal about lactation. Cool.
- Suck on This - baby junk food industry
- Fantastic and comprehensive article from Pat Thomas of The Ecologist Magazine.
My must have music for relaxing
Did you know that stress inhibits let-down of milk? Would be useful if you were about to be eaten by a tiger: really wouldn't want to be sitting around feeding your baby, would you!
Before Sleep Comes
The most gorgeous lullaby album, recorded by Luka when he had tendonitis and could only play his guitar very gently. I have played it about 650 times and still not getting sick of it. Can't say that for many other baby lullaby albums!
Amazon Price: $17.49 (as of 07/10/2009)
Vote!
Maybe you are a nursing mother, maybe you have been, or maybe you've never picked up a baby in your life. But you can put yourself in the position of a nursing mum in modern Britain or USA or any other society where the bottle still rules. Ask yourself which one of the options below would give you the biggest confidence boost to nurse in public.
Fighting back against the formula tide
useful resources for toppling the bottle
"The incidences of bottle homage are often subtle enough that we do not see them. They operate as a sort of smokescreen. Although doctors, nurses, mothers and even formula manufacturers endlessly drone that "breast is best," they have not succeeded in surmounting the societal perception that the bottle is nonetheless okay, that it is really almost as good-indeed, that it is still the social norm. This normalization of the bottle takes place on a variety of levels and through a variety of media. Formula ads trumpet the putative benefits of artificial milk ("closer than ever to breastmilk"), but the real message-that bottle-feeding is the norm-is conveyed through less visible forms of representation. And while the media are discreet and the offenses hard to pinpoint, the message is presented persuasively enough that the many studies proving that breastfeeding is essential for normal human health and that formula can be harmful do not speak as loudly as the cultural cajolings that whisper to parents that bottle-feeding is just fine: Go ahead, you were bottle-fed, and you turned out alright." [Stephanie Ondrack]
So here are some links to help turn the tide:
- BFLG - Monitoring Code Violations
- If you think a formula company has violated the Code (International Code for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes) by inappropriate advertising, you can go to this site and submit your information. This is a UK site but has links for other countries.
- The International Code in full
- Full text of the International Code of the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
- Mothering Magazine
- Consistently Pro-breastfeeding with articles and an online forum (including a lactivism section)
Breastfeeding at work: information and rights
does your company have a bf policy? they should! research, recommendations and reports here.
- Managing Pregnancy Event Report September 2004
- This report of the Managing Pregnancy Events of the Equailty Exchange September 2004.
- NCT :: Breastfeeding Awareness :: Supporting Breastfeeding As An Employer
- The National Childbirth Trust (UK)
What employers can do to support breastfeeding; what employees can do, plus excellent links and examples of best practice policy. - Breastfeeding and returning to work - example policy from Scotland
- Breastfeeding and returning to work POLICY STATEMENT
Breastfeeding and returning to work
In addition to acting within EC and Scottish Law, NHS employers in Scotland
should adopt the following code of practice in support of employees who
are breastfeeding.. - Independent Online Edition > Health Medical
- Mothers rate McDonald's as the worst place for breastfeeding
- New York Times Examines Issues Surrounding Breast-Feeding At Work
Make a pledge!
help us promote breastfeeding
- Our wishlist on WhattoGive
- This is a list of all the funds we need to raise to keep our campaign going. If you'd like to contribute, you can use PayPal (and then you can create a WhattoGive list for your wedding, dog's birthday or Barmitzvah! Hurrah!)
