#34: Normalizing Breastfeeding with Vanessa Simmons

Breastfeeding in public has been a hot topic in the birthing and parenting worlds.  Often breastfeeding in public is treated as taboo and breastfeeding mothers may be asked to leave stores or businesses.  When did breastfeeding your baby become taboo or controversial?  Does the lack of acceptance of public breastfeeding affect breastfeeding rates?   According to the CDC, less than 80% of babies are ever breastfed, with rates dropping to less than 50% by age 6 months.   In many parts of the world, breastfeeding rates are much higher and public breastfeeding is widely accepted--why not here in the U.S.?  What can we do to normalize breastfeeding so that woman are free to breastfeed their babies whenever and whereever they need to?  What can we do to promote the diversity of breastfeeding, whether it be culturally or even in the ways women choose to breastfeed (on the breast, pumping, tandem, etc.)?

Vaness Simmons, photographer and founder of the Normalize Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign is on the show tonight to discuss how she's out to postively impact breastfeeding in the United States and what you can do to help.  Find out more at http://normalizebreastfeeding.org/.

Follow NormalizeBreastfeeding.org on these social media sites:

• https://www.facebook.com/normalizebreastfeeding.org
• Instagram, Twitter: @normalizebfing
• http://www.pinterest.com/NormalizeBfing/