Contact: Heather MacLean,RN,CBC,BS
Filmmaker/Producer/Certified Breastfeeding Consultant
Gaia's Embrace
phone: 845-518-5947
E-Mail: h_maclean@hotmail.com
Website: www.nursingmotherswelcome.com
May 9, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Breastfeeding or Violence, which are you more accepting of?
Breastfeeding is less accepted in our culture than violence. I'm
embarrassed! Killing and Maiming through various media and video
games is
quite common. I wish we were supportive, protective and encouraging
about
breastfeeding, like the rest of the world. If we include scenes of
mothers
nursing in movies and television it would be normal to see a child suckle.
Even in countries where it is not acceptable to show legs, wrists
or hair, breastfeeding a hungry baby is a common sight. What are our priorities?
Many of us have never even seen breastfeeding. You almost never
see it in
major motion pictures. What story are we telling the rest of
the world and
each other about the good old US of A?
It's no question that human milk is the best food for our babies, fewer
ear
infections, higher IQ, fewer allergies to name a few. The government
WIC,
Women Infant Children, would like to increase the number of breastfeeding
women to 95%. We learn more from imprinting, watching what others
do, than
from the spoken or written word. 99% of women are physically able to
breastfeed and yet over and over again well-meaning health professionals
mistakenly tell women they are not producing enough milk. This is
virtually never true and a big blow to self-esteem. There are several
steps to successful breastfeeding. Without encouragement along the
way, at any of
these steps a woman may give up and for the rest of her life, feel like a
failure.
In the news during November of '06, Delta removed a breastfeeding
women and
her family from a plane simply because she was breastfeeding. I
am proud of
our response, 900 women held a Nurse-In in 40 airports across the nation.
ABC New Health 3-5-07 "Breastfeeding Moms Protest Victoria Secret" a
mother
in Wisconsin was sent to an employee restroom when she asked for a place
to
breastfeed. Some states have legislation in place to protect mothers
nursing
in public. Even so, uncomfortable security officers in malls around
the
country forcefully ask mothers to leave the common areas while breastfeeding. Many
employees won't pump or breastfeed on breaks at work for fear of censure
or even termination.
Mothers who are embarrassed by social pressure about breastfeeding
may
hide or sadly turn to bottle feeding. One mother told me about
her
restaurant experience. She was eating with her husband, daughter
and baby
and began to discreetly breastfeed. The waitress brought over two
busboys to
gawk at her. When I heard this I decided I had to do something. To
help society be more comfortable and therefore more supportive, I
decided to share the sight of discreet breastfeeding in public. The
DVD
" Nursing Mothers Welcome" is a seven minute visual collage of about
100
shots of mothers of a variety of cultures, happily breastfeeding as they
go
about their daily lives in a supportive society. There are no words
spoken,
just music, Beethoven's Pastoral. Since no translation is needed, the
movie
is immediately understood, and ready for release world wide. In this
movie,
no breast is ever shown so it is suitable for all ages - even a kindergarten
class.
Previous editions of this extremely powerful and very
gentle film are loved and used locally by: LaLeche League, WIC, Lactation
Consultants in hospitals, midwives, etc... It's time for the rest
of the
world to know about it.
I'm not saying breasts aren't beautiful, sexual and a very effective
way to
market, but they do have another very important purpose.