Pop-Up Lactivism

A California ad campaign may have onlookers doing the double take.  Why in the world has that woman been there all day nursing her child?

That blonde with the baby? You’ll see quite a bit of her if you live in Marin County  She and two of her friends will hang in public places doing the unthinkable for hours on end: breastfeed in public.

And what’s even more surprising? She won’t even flinch when she gets the stare down from slack-jawed gawkers.

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These “ladies” are actually life-sized photos of women feeding their children, an effort by lactivists to make people more comfortable with public nursing.

Lactation consultant and Marin Breastfeeding Coalition member Susan Martinelli points to the health benefits as part of the reasoning behind the ads,

Breastfeeding is recognized as the standard for infant feeding by all major health organizations.  Mother’s milk provides the best nutritional, immunological and emotional nurturance for the normal growth and development of babies. No manufactured formula offers anything close.

And besides that “human milk for human babies” thing, the coalition also wants to raise awareness of the legality of public breastfeeding. Each cardboard mama hold a card that says

When breastfeeding is accepted, it won’t be noticed.

Or, like my feelings on the matter: I’m feeding my child, here. If vulgarity is the issue, we can outlaw breastfeeding when we outlaw people with nasty table manners from dining in public.

I know of no woman who is an exhibitionist in this category. A breastfeeder at a restaurant or grocery to offend you? Pashaw!

We’re doing it to provide the best nutrition for our babe, whenever, wherever. That real, pure, natural fast food.

Source: Bay Area NBC.

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