Join the campaigns to BF in Public and stop Formula advertising!!!!!!

[Difers]

I got this e-mail today and thought that some of you may be interested in supporting these campaigns

Dear Friend,

We have a short, but important window of opportunity to influence policy and implement two of the Breastfeeding Manifesto?s objectives. As a supporter of The Breastfeeding Manifesto I am writing to ask for your urgent help to influence two important proposed laws which could see the implementation of objective 5 and 7 of the Manifesto- if you act now. Visit www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk and send the emails to the government ministers on the ?How You Can Help? page. It?s quick and easy!

Objective 5-Breastfeeding in public

Objective 5 of the Manifesto is: ?Develop policy and practice to support breastfeeding in public places.? The UK government has released The Single Equality Bill for consultation. This means that everyone including organizations and members of the public can submit their comments on this proposed new law. The Single Equality Bill covers a range of issues but one of its aims is to stop the discrimination against breastfeeding mothers in public. We are delighted that the government is finally addressing this issue. However, we feel that the bill as it currently stand is worrying; it only provides protection for those mothers who are breastfeeding a child up to the age of 12 months. By only protecting Mothers breastfeeding children under the age of 12 months the UK government is sending out a message that it is unacceptable to breastfeed a child over the age of one and therefore suggesting it is acceptable to discriminate against them. The World Health Organization recommends that babies are breastfed for two years or beyond and so we believe that the cap on 12 months could be damaging to children?s health. We need you to send the email at the bottom of this pagewww.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/make_your_voice_heard_1.php to ask the government to change the proposed law to ensure all women are fully protected to feed their babies in public beyond their first birthday.

Objective 7- Advertising of Formula Milk

Objective 7 of the Manifesto is: ?Adopt the World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant Resolutions.? The Food Standards Agency is currently consulting regulations for the advertising and promotion of formula milk. You may have read the recent press coverage and out cry surrounding OK, the model Jordan and SMA formula milk. It is this kind of promotion which we want to stop. However the proposed regulations would not cover this kind of promotion and so the regulations are inadequate for protecting parents and babies from the influence of formula-milk promotion. Parents need reliable information based on evidence, not commercial pressure from baby milk companies. Non commerical, independent information will benefit all parents including those who bottle feed. However, the proposed regulations are inadequate for the job of protecting parents and babies from the influence of formula promotion. Objective 7 of the Manifesto calls for the implementation of The WHO Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and it provides an excellent model for the law that is required. We need you to send the email at www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/make_your_voice_heard_2.php asking the Foood Standards Agenncy to go further than they propose to go.

It is only with your help and when we work together that we will be be able to influence the government and have lasting affect on children?s health.

I urge you to please visit this website and send the emails, your voice really matters.

Best Wishes

Alison Baum

Co-Founder and Spokesperson, The Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition

But I'm not complaining about it, and you're not listening

I shall parp this thread now, with all your prejudices against me intact.

I have tried to explain that the name is wrong, but you're not in the mood to listen.

They're are billions of mellow breastfeeders in the world who just get on with it, in public. I've never known anyone to be berated for bf in a public place. I think that the incidents are so rare, that they crop up on internet websites by virtue of their rarity.

Yes, the British have a slightly clinical 'problem' with overt bf ... but most women are subtle about it, and it would take an eejit to challenge them!

I do agree with government legislation on one particular (which will make me hugely unpopular all over again). I do not agree that a woman should openly breastfeed a child of one year and upwards in public. There is no clinical need to do so beyond that point.

Desi, until your last sentence I was all ready to defend you, as indeed, you had not said anything about the manifesto and what it wants to achieve, just about the name of the group that asks people to act.

But why did you have to spoil it? O.k. the "clinical" need might not be as obvious as with an under 12 month old Baby, but surely it is only common sense that it should be fine to bf beyond and will still benefit.
It actually strikes me as very weird, that in western societies, where dairy and drinking milk is such a pushed product, people have such a problem with extendet Breastfeeding....if anyhting, there is no need, whatsoever, to drink the milk of a different species, if anyhting, that is weird (and I do still use milk and dairy products, but I don't kid myself in believing I actually need them nor that they aid/benefit my health)!

I don't understand why anyone would think the name is more important than the issue, tbh.

And sod clinical need. There's no "clinical need" to breastfeed any healthy baby, however old or young.

One year is just an arbitrary limit for people who are uncomfortable about breastfeeding, but can just about cope with tiny babies being bf. It re-inforces discomfort with bf.

no clinical need? Strange that the WHO recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years old then....

littlebella...well, I had a friend telling me,when she saw me bf'ing my ms, back then a mere 3 month old, that it started to look weird to her, and wrong, etc...

sorry, should have been WHO recommends bf for at least 2 years

actually WHO recommends 2 years and beyond until selfweaning, don't they...which could be...shock horror...like 6 years old or....gasp, even later....

3andnomore, that is a real shame, had she had children herself at the time?

I for one LOVE the name.

I think the name is utterly unimportant.

I think the cause is the thing. Spending large chunks of time dissing the name, comes across as a bit of a displacement activity...

"I do not agree that a woman should openly breastfeed a child in pblic age one and upwards"

also want to add, my 8 month old is exclusively breastfeeding (and she is healthy, alert, active, crawling, sitting, and on the 75th centil too), i can't ikmagine her being far less reliant on breastmilk when she turns one as she has no interest in food. So this law is relevant to myself AND other mothers & babies like me.

Yes I did wonder if birth certificates would be demanded.

Also, what is anyone going to do if a woman obstinately sits there and says of her hulking 4 year old "he's 11 months".

Who is going to remonstrate with her?

("Madam, your child is clearly potty trained and reading Tolstoy". "He's eleven months, I tell you. Now leave me alone or I'll have you arrested")

she did...however, not quite as succesfully as she may have wished....she bf'ed/mixed fed till about 6 weeks, so, there were issues...and I know she didn't mean it as a attack or anything, we are still very close friends, and once I was over it and less hormonal, we actually talked about it.

Belle...but there is no harm done if anyone gives their opnion about the name...and if anything, it might even be helpful criticism...as it is one thing how it comes across to Breastfeeders that really belief in it and all that then those that don't have as strong feelings.

"But mother I started school yesterday"
"Shut up and sit in your high chair!"

Well, I'm sorry ladies, but there is no clinical need to bf a baby beyond that point.

Surely, it is your emotional needs that are being satisfied beyond that point? They should be on solids by then.

'Tis perfectly understandable that you would want to continue, but governments have to make decisions based on the majority view. The majority of people in the UK would not like to see a big baby being breastfed in a public place.

Much as I love to see babies being bf (and where I live it's the norm), yes, I would have a problem with a big, busting toddler feeding at the breast in an open place. Not at home ... that's up to you and I guess it's a beautiful, peaceful thing to do) ... but in public. No.

Desi...so, basiclaly there is no need for cowsmilk or Formula after that point then neither...clinically that is...saying that..after weaning age....roughly 3-4 years old, most humans actually loose the ability to digest any lactose (I think) human or other (that includes cows then), therefore surely cowsmilk should NOT be consumed after that...

rainbow83, my dd (now 15months) barely ate any solids at all until 9 months when she seemed to get the hang of it quite suddenly (we did baby led weaning so it was entirely her choice whether or not she ate) she is still having about 4 feeds/day and an occasional one at night as well as 3 good meals and a couple of snacks, i never had any plan about how long i'd feed for but at the moment she shows no signs of wanting to give up and i do feel more self conscious now about feeding in public than when she was younger. I would really like the law to apply to all bf children and the age not to be stated.

why should she be on solids? frankly desi its not your business how i feed my baby.

Desi, forty years ago, the majority of people in the UK did not want to have black people living next door to them.

They were wrong. The equal ops law was brought in against the wishes of the majority. Rightly so, IMO.

Do you really think the WHO is run by a bunch of needy breastfeeders?

pampam, i have tried the baby led weaning (and still try once a day or so) AND purees but no interest so far.. hopefully things will pick up, or perhaps i should wean her off the breast and let her starve.

actually solids, would at that age most definately not cover all needs....!
Anyway, though, breastmilk does not loose it's value in antibodies and whatever else...it's still a active living food, that will continoue helping a child as long as it's given and the child has not naturally weaned...!
However, of course Breastfeeding is never just about getting nutrients down the Baby...it's about so much more, so, yes, of course, Breastfeeding past 1 year will give comfort, etc...just as it did before a year old...again, we live in a society where comforters are broadly accepted...well, aslong as it is an object like a dummy or a comfort blankie or a teddy, or whatnot...why is it so unacceptable that the mother should be giving the comfort?

Desi - just because they start eating solids doesn't mean they stop having breastmilk!!
There is always some crossover time, sometimes months, sometimes years - whatever works for that child.

desiderata - i can assure you that my choice to bf my daughter is not about satisfying my needs but actually about meeting hers. I doubt anyone could make a child breastfeed if they didn't want to and i never offer feeds these days as actually i'd quite like the extra freedom i'd have if she did stop. I feed her only when she asks for it and at least i know she's getting the benefits of the antibodies in my milk, the right kind of protein to meet her growing needs and the close contact and security that come form feeding her. In fact she just woke up terrified by quad bikes in our street but was back asleep within about 10 mins after i fed her. Have you ever tried to force a child onto the breast? I doubt very much that it would be possible.

I am repulsed and revolted by the sight of tatoos on bare flabby bellies and inwardly think "please reconsider Madam" whenever I see one. But I wouldn't think I had the right to approach the offending owner of the belly and make her feel scared/ humiliated/ angry/ sad. At the moment, the law supports breastfeeding women being subjected to such harassment, and as such, needs to be changed.

It isn't just about protecting women from harassment, it's about shifting public attitudes.