Request MN Towers - Breastfeeding Calendar for Developing Countries?

[ruty]

I dropped MN Towers an email, but just putting it here in for everyone, including Justine and co. In light of NetMums acceptance of Nestle sponsorship and the resulting threads about it here, i was wondering if we could do something positive to counteract the aggressive marketing of formula to developing countries.
One idea might be a calendar, made up of Mnetters who are currently breastfeeding [they could be shot so anonymity doesn't have to be totally lost if need be], maybe sponsored by a nice company with donations to Save the Children. And perhaps with a bit of publicity we could get the calendar distributed to maternity hospitals in places like Bangladesh.

Any thoughts? Anyone with the right background to help out/advise?

thanks...

So for a calendar it has to be arty shots then - for people to like looking at it. I think I agree.

I think it's also important to evaluate the actual rationale: if it's to raise money for Save the Children, or for maternity hospitals in Bangladesh, then one must ask the fundamental question: is printing a calendar (or whatever) actually the best way to raise the most funds for this cause...

hello everyone. My initial reaction was to the article linked on one of the Nestle threads, about how photos of Western children/mums bottlefeeding were often displayed in maternity hospitals in developing countries as a sort of aspirational lifestyle choice. I wondered if there was any way visually of counteracting that. I also thought that we might generate some publicity here on the back of Netmums adopting Nestle as a sponsor, and it might be a good time to act. However, lots of people have brought up interesting points here. I would buy a calendar of people i didn't know personally, with the breastfeeding angle, because i feel ordinary images of women breastfeeding are still so rare, and i would find it comforting and maybe even humourous.
I agree there should be a range of ages of babies breastfeeding, definitely.

I still think it is a good idea. Even if the calendar/poster/flyers etc didn't reach Bangladesh they would be useful to put up in maternity hospitals and social centres in the UK. We would need a sponsor though and perhaps Mumsnet don't want to get involved. Will see if this thread develops any further.

I would buy it and I think it might be a good thing for hospitals and breast feeding friendly places to display.

I think it's a lovely idea and with Mumsnet being cited more and more in the press it would probably be surprisingly influential.

I am going to get to working on forcing 34 mth old ds back onto the boob tomorrow.

i'm in.

DD1 is 3 and dd2 is 9 months. Can do seperately or could force them into freaky two at once if need be.

Groovy Mrs A!!!

Excellent Mrs Apron!

see if Gok can style it? How to look good breastfeeding?

I would love to be Gok'd.

And I love Hubs ideas about the hidden breastfeeders.

Great idea Ruty. Not bf anymore but have a great picture of DD (then about 3) bfing her dolly in Matalan

Feetheart, that's the kind of thing I was thinking - MNers who are no longer bf may be able to contribute then if they had any photos they were willing to share.

I've had another idea (don't think it's already been mentioned) - what about a wall planner, with several small pictures on it? Again, would depend on our market, but wall planners are useful for lots of people. I know I've seen one in a hospital recently parading formula ads

aw feetheart how sweet. yes photos of Mnetters who have breastfed at some point might work - a wall planner might be a good alternative but if the photos are a bit small it might not get the message acoss - useful alternative to calendar though.

Just googled Gok Mrs Apron. Had no idea who he was. We might go for the camp high end market in that case, lots of us dressed as vampish Madonnas with one breast bare?

I am bfing 9 month old and would be happy to be photographed.I am in Scotland tho so would need to find someone who is involved up here.

Think it's a fab idea btw!!

you know we could do the subtle route. Loads of pics of cute kids and babies full spectrum of children if possible children/babies with SN different ethnic backgrounds all gorgeous with the final pic saying what do they all have in common and a mass feed in pic?

Or is that too cheesy for words?

no it's rather a good idea Mrs A....

You could have good straplines
we all have something in common
some of us found it harder than others
some for a short time some for longer
It all makes a difference

oh I dunno just spouting here

Would be nice to see a lots of differnet ages of kids too and it might appeal more to people than lots of BF images.

sounds great. Perhaps we should do a little pamphlet/book? I'm being a bit light hearted but it is such a good opportunity and it would be sad to give it up completely...We do need a sponsor though...

Mrs A, I like it! More appealing for a calendar or similar to, as you can have lots of adorable smiling/funny/silly etc kids pics rather than Mum after mum after mum, with boobs out!

What about something like this mosaic photo ? A beautiful photo of a baby at the breast, made up of tiny pictures of our DCs who have been BF (sort of expanding on Mrs Aprons good idea!) And a catchy line or two?

ooh i like it.

Its cool huh? I wuld def buy one of those on a calender, notebook, note cards even, as I think it would be 'arty' enough to excse the fact that I was sending out BF promo cards to friends IYSWIM.

It says you need 1000 images, but that shouldn;t be too hard if lots of MNers contributed their fave picture of their DC.

I like the 'what have they all got in common' idea. Although I like the idea of 12 b/f mothers, the sales would be more restricted - it wouldn't be the sort of thing I would buy as christmas presents for the relations iyswim.

Sounds fun, I'm breastfeeding my 8 month old DD and I like the idea of the mosaic photo.

Love the mosaic idea!