Rosalyn Smith with Adrienne, 5, and Aubrey, 1 1/2
(Her breastfeeding photo is by Byron Graves)
The benefits of breastfeeding -- for Mom as well as her baby -- went on display around Racine today, thanks to We're Better Together, a public awareness and information campaign.
Dottie-Kay Bowersox, Public Health Administrator, unveiled the 17 life-size photographs of women breastfeeding their babies that will be displayed around the city. The program stressing the health benefits of breastfeeding was kicked off this afternoon with a reception at City Hall for the women -- and their babies -- who posed for the pictures by local photographers Camela Langendorf, Jennifer Dallmann and Byron Graves.
Nicole Loop with Cullen, 4 months (Photo by Jennifer Dallmann)
The photos will be displayed at City Hall, the Racine Public Library, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare -- All Saints Hospital, JoJo's Toys, RG Natural Baby, the Racine Art Museum, Moxie Child and other downtown stores. The campaign was designed by Lisa Andrews, the city's Women Infants and Children (WIC) project coordinator -- herself a breastfeeding mother.
The campaign also celebrates the passage of a bill sponsored by Rep. Cory Mason and Sen. John Lehman that gave unprecedented rights to breastfeeding women.
The law states:
A mother may breastfeed her child in any public or private ocation where they mother and child are otherwise authorized to be. In such a location, no person may prohibit a mother from breastfeeding her child, direct a mother to move to another location to breastfeed her child, direct a mother to cover her child or breast while breastfeeding or otherwise restrict a mother from breastfeeding.The City of Racine Health Department says research has shown that breast milk is the healthiest diet for babies, especially during their first six months. Mothers who nurse are less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer. And breastfeeding can save a family more than $2,000 during the baby's first year, over the cost of buying formula.
Kim Allen, with Dylan, 5 months, and Aaron, 3 years (Photo by Camela Langendorf)
Aaron's sign says, 'Milk production in progress'
Aaron's sign says, 'Milk production in progress'
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It's nice to see the city's helath dept. wasting money on this and thier "big move" - the city was better off with the crazy cat lady.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great campaign, has many benefits to mother and child and is the most natural thing in the world. No need for negative comments.
ReplyDeleteGreat Campaign... Anything that promotes health and wellness of babies can only help. Pictures are tasteful and classy...
ReplyDeleteBe pro-breast feeding, fine. No problem.
ReplyDeleteBut that proposed law is off-base because there ARE inapropriate places for a woman to be breastfeeding. We don't allow people to eat just anywhere - and that includes babies and children and adults. This is just a bunch of P.C. bullcrap. I don't pull out jars of baby food in a police station, library, or at Pick N Save, so no, breastfeeding in these places is out of line at these locations, as well.
Why can't people just use common sense - on BOTH sides - anymore? Why can't people be more tolerant of breastfeeding and why can't breastfeeders realize that the world doesn't revolve around them?
Brilliant campaign! Mothers should be supported in their right to do what's natural, what's healthy, and what's right for them and their growing children. People who are offended by seeing a mother feed her child are obviously staring too closely! If you don't like what you see then look away. It really is THAT simple.
ReplyDeleteKLH
MY TAX DOLLARS SHOULDN'T BE USED FOR THIS. a MOTHER'S HEALTHCARE PROVIDER SHOULD DO THIS.
ReplyDeleteMany women bring bottles of milk for feeding if they are going to be away from home for an extended period of time and often times feed their child in public. Breast feeding is no different, it is a natural way of feeding and healthier for the baby. Those opposed must have the wrong thing on there mind - Furthemore if done properly the mother's breast is not exposed.
ReplyDeleteI really don't see the big deal here. Yes, there will be those who are not discreet about it and whip off their shirts or something. Those are the ones who make it difficult for everyone else. Of course, people don't want to sit in a restaurant next to someone with her shirt off and making a big deal about nursing her kid. However, I have never met anyone who makes such a production in public (new moms tend to make a big production of it at home when they're trying to get used to it all. :) ) I had a friend who regularly nursed her baby during church services and I completely didn't know (and sat behind her) for months. She used a sling for the baby. I do question using tax money for this campaign, though. It seems like an expensive way to advertise, but maybe it will be effective. Way to go all of you who nurse your babies... and stick to it! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photographs - and what a brilliant campaign. Breastfeeding is normal - and, how brilliant is this, the free product is infinitely superior to the one you pay for, for both mom and baby. Those who complain about the tax dollars being used on this campaign might consider how many millions are spent on eg hospitalising formula-fed babies with gastric bugs, something breastfed babies seldom get.
ReplyDeleteBig picture, people - in more ways than one, today!
Nice positive step forward for a safer, better world.
ReplyDeleteAbout the tax dollars... there is a deliberate reason this was put on by WIC (not the department of health per se) because formula for infants is used in higher quantities in poorer populations. 1 can of powdered formula (the cheaper stuff!) can range from $10-15 a CAN. It is easily about $2K/year, if not more. Now multiply that by all the infants in the program, knowing that, on average, about 60%+ of poorer moms use formula due mostly to a lack of support in the community and positive breastfeeding role models (i.e. it doesn't feel ODD to me because I've seen it before my own child).
ReplyDeleteSo, while this "ad campaign" as you call it may seem expensive, chances are it actually is not (do we know what, if anything, these photographers charged?) AND has likely paid for itself in a matter of months, if not weeks or days.
$2K/child X the number of babies in the program. If there are 50 babies in the program that end up being breastfed, that's $100K saved. No matter what this ad campaign cost, the savings will be multiplied exponentially, and this was as smart budget call on behalf of the WIC Project Coordinator.
A little research and common sense is a lot better than a knee-jerk reaction people.
(by the way, all of the statstics above are easily verified and are the result of numerous studies over the years).
It's more difficult to quantify expenses due to formula-fed vs. breast-fed babies in hospitals, so I didn't even factor that INTO the ROI, but it is indeed a real savings above and beyond this.
well said, put that in your pipe nay sayers and smoke it. You people would complain if you were hung with a new rope. its about time someone look at this.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for promoting this, don't get me wrong. I'm just not sure how effective this will be - will someone choose to breastfeed their child because they saw a sign in a clothing store? Maybe. I really don't think that would have changed my mind. What encouraged me the most was 1) my sister's dedication to nursing her baby 2) our doctor's encouragement and 3) going to La Leche League meetings and meeting with other moms. Maybe The Post could do a companion piece by interviewing the La Leche League leader for Racine? Her name is Graciela and her phone number is 598-9416. Anyone can call about meeting times and places.
ReplyDeleteSo the poor mothers who use WIC hang out at Moxy Child, I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can make boobies next year's downtown art project! I'm definitely in the bidding!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Showing a photo of a woman breast feeding does absolutely NOTHING to teach why breastfeeding might be a good healthy option. It's a misguided campaign.
ReplyDeleteTo the person who posted:
ReplyDelete"I don't pull out jars of baby food in a police station, library, or at Pick N Save, so no, breastfeeding in these places is out of line at these locations, as well."
Seriously?!! Would you be okay with feeding a bottle though in those circumstances??
Wow! I have breastfed my children at all those places you listed and more!(including the police station where my husband works and know that they appreciated a quiet feeding baby versus a crying hungry baby!) I find it amusing that you also used the word "tolerate" when referring to breastfeeding. This is the problem with our society...bottlefeeding is seen as the norm and breasts are seen as sexual and NOT as the food source that nature intended. More than not, those who promote breastfeeding do not "think the world revolves around them" but do think we have the right to feed our children anytime, anywhere without harrassment. Most moms breastfeed discreetly and may even go unnoticed. It is the few that maybe overly "exposed" or made people in the public "uncomfortable" to the degree that a law needed to be passed in order to protect this right!! It is no wonder that when attending both of my daughters health ed classes not one mention of why breasts develop was discussed. I had to remind the MD presenting that girls breasts grow and develop to offer nourishment to the future baby that they bear. It is the most natural and healthy thing women can do for their children and for the planet...those who disagree need to educate themselves. Feeding a child at breast when they are hungry is never "out of line."
To the person who said that her tax dollars should not be used for this:
ReplyDeleteYour tax dollars go, instead to paying health care costs for babies who are NOT breastfed. This is a campaign which benefits society as a whole, and the environment, as well as the individual mother/baby dyads. It's a win-win. A campaign like this will cut costs, not increase them.
Pete or Dustin, can you find out how much was spent to put on this production?
ReplyDeleteI think part of the benefit of having the lifesized posters around town is just in getting breastfeeding out in the public and making it a "normal" part of mothering and every day life. Once breastfeeding is seen as the biological norm in feeding babies, more women will breastfeed, they will just come to accept that is the way babies are fed. Most people now have not been exposed to breastfeeding and see formula feeding as the norm, and are very unaware of the costs of formula feeding...not just dollar-wise but health-wise and to society as a whole. BF does not pollute, does not require manufacturing and transport money, does not put a financial burden on society to provide formula for underserved populations, but is free, natural, and healthier for mom and baby.....
ReplyDeleteI just want to say one thing; breastmilk is far more superior than formula. Breastmilk provides antibodies and hormones that cannot be replicated in formula. Also the bioavailability of the nutrients in breastmilk is much higher than formula. That should it all, breastfeeding is the best start.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes down to it, I would rather have my tax dollars spent promoting a normal, beautiful and empowering view of women mothering through breastfeeding than formula because we don't want to put effort into fixing a public Health issue. Formula use in infants has caused many sectors of public healthcare costs to skyrocket. The nutritional, immunilogical, emotional, and physical benefits for moms and babies are amazing. The amount of money that could be saved by moms breastfeeding is astronomical.
ReplyDeleteSeeing other women breastfeed is a proven, successful form of education. Maybe if this was considered "normal" than we wouldn't have this problem.
Love this!
ReplyDeleteI believe that posting these pictures WILL help to promote breastfeeding. There is still an uncomfortable stigma attached to breastfeeding and these pictures help expose the population to it as "normal" and beautiful. This alone won't do the trick, but I believe it will help a lot. The pictures for the general public, along with education for mother's receiving WIC (which is provided) will all help. I'd rather pay one time for these pics than ongoing for formula and the increased illnesses formula fed babies have. To those who think it is inappropriate to nurse a baby at a library-or anywhere in public-you need a reality check. Nursing is NATURAL and best for the baby.
ReplyDeleteTo the person who posted:
ReplyDelete"I don't pull out jars of baby food in a police station, library, or at Pick N Save, so no, breastfeeding in these places is out of line at these locations, as well."
Grownups and children don't need to eat every hour or two so comparing a grownup's feeding needs to a baby's need to publically feed is ridiculous. Plenty of people eat portable foods in public though. The same people who are so offended by breastfeeding typically are NOT offended by beer commericals or victoria secret models publically displaying their breasts. Guess what? The intended use of breasts are not for selling beer or bras - breasts are there to feed babies.
More breastfeeding means healthier babies and less tax dollars spent on infant formula and illness.
"I don't pull out jars of baby food in a police station, library, or at Pick N Save, so no, breastfeeding in these places is out of line at these locations, as well."
ReplyDeleteYou can't compare breastfeeding to baby foo. Compare it, instead, to bottlefeeding. Would you pull out a bottle in any of the above named places? Then yes, it is appropriate to breastfeed there.
And I agree, these will help raise awareness that breast feeding is NORMAL, and should be seen in public, not secreted away to some closet.
Forgive the naysayers ~ they know not ~
ReplyDelete