Breastfeeding Advocacy

What is Breastfeeding Advocacy Exactly

By definition advocacy is active support of a cause or idea, especially one that is argued. Now while breastfeeding has undoubtedly been proven to be the cheapest, most efficient and most importantly the way that babies are intended to receive their nutrients, nutrients that they can in fact only get from breastfeeding, there is still misinformation circulating, confusing and down right misinforming mothers. Pamphlets found in goodie bags from hospitals, that are distributed by formula companies, books that lack research and updated information and word of mouth comments on formula feeding and breastfeeding that are just not correct are all misinforming mothers. Breastfeeding advocacy is informing people of the benefits of breastfeeding and helping infants to be breastfed.

Get Breastfeeding Advocacy Apparel and Products on CafePress and Make Your Own!

What is Lactovism and
What is a Lactovist Exactly

In short, lactovism is breastfeeding activism. So it is no surprise that a lactovist is someone who through example and positive actions promotes breastfeeding. Although lactovist are supporting breastfeeding and not supporting formula feeding they are not to judge a mother and instead offer her information on why breastfeeding is ultimately the best choice for their child. In addition to addressing individuals with questions about breastfeeding lactovist often organize nurse-ins and write letters to places of business who refused to allow a mother to breastfeed in their establishment, which of course is illegal.

What is Something You Can
Do to Promote Breastfeeding

Obviously the first thing that comes to mind as something that you can do to promote breastfeeding is to breastfeed your own babies that you have, or pump breast milk to feed them. Another way that you can effectively promote breastfeeding is to give breastfeeding tips, advice and information to mom who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Listen to questions and offer nonjudgmental and objective advice and suggestions. Tell them what you know that you find helpful and what you wish you knew when you started breastfeeding and what you found to be very useful knowing that you were thankful that you knew. There are groups that you join, organizations that you can donate to and apparel for babies, mommies, and daddies that clearly state you support breastfeeding as well as other fun items.

As a dedicated lactovist an individual could help organize and participate in a nurse-in. A nurse-in is a when a group of breastfeeding mothers gather in one place and nurse their babies. Obviously this is a genital protest to a place that asks a mother to leave for breastfeeding and is not only legal but completely healthy because it is not as these mothers are making their babies nurse, it just so happens that at a certain place and time it is feeding time for all of the babies. Often letter campaigns are something that a lactovist is involved in, to help strengthen breastfeeding laws and make breastfeeding in public more accepted.

Going with your gut and doing what feels natural when it comes to nursing in public is key to lactovism. Breastfeeding in Public offers advice and suggestions for nursing mothers who are anticipating if they have to feed their baby in public, which will likely be the case unless you plan to be at home the whole time that you are nursing.