Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Victoria's Secret Nurse-In!

What is up with Victoria's Secret employees? In December last year, a South Carolina mom was told that breastfeeding in the store was against company policy and was advised to go to a public restroom. We know the story...company policy in fact does allow moms to breastfeed in their stores...just a couple bad apples...apology performed by PR flack...blah blah blah. Then last week, within two days, at a store in Racine, Wisconsin, and another in Boston, two different moms were told to take their hungry babies to the restroom to eat by Victoria's Secret employees. The irony of this happening, repeatedly, at a store that sells all manner of bras (except nursing bras) is not lost on me, but I don't have time to go into the implications of all that right now.

ANYWAY...these two women urge nursing moms to join them in a nurse-in at Victoria's Secret stores nationwide on July 1 at 1 pm, to protest not only this particular company's poorly implemented policy, but to demand state and federal protection of babies' right to nurse when they're hungry, wherever they may be. Here in Portland, moms will be nursing at the Lloyd Center, Clackamas Town Center, Washington Square, and Tanasbourne Victoria's Secret stores. (We're expecting press coverage at Clackamas Town Center.) Join them. If you're not a nursing mom or can't make a nurse-in, but still want to help, go to ProMoM and use their nifty email thingamabob to send a note to Victoria's Secret/Limited Brands.

Nurse on, mamas!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

It's About Babies, Not Boobies

So, it's been a while...life with two young children gives me little time to complete a thought, let alone write one down. I still don't have much time, but wanted to share the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Breastfeeding Campaign Ad materials. I'm not sure what I think about the, um, titillating nature of the print ads. Part of me loves it, part of me thinks it will just add to people's perception that breastfeeding is about boobies, not babies.

Nippers Unite! has had a couple business meetings and we are beginning to plan our events for World Breastfeeding Week in August. If you would like to keep informed about our plans, please join our Yahoo group.