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Mothers rally by nursing infants
By AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer CLEARWATER -- They weren't picketing. They weren't carrying signs. The only carrying on was about squeaky strollers and dysfunctional breast pumps. A group of moms spent their morning Friday at Westfield Shoppingtown, formerly Countryside Mall, rallying support for breast-feeding by nursing their children. They say many moms are embarrassed to breast-feed in public. They wanted to show mallgoers that it's perfectly natural. And not something to blush about. "In our culture, people get weirded out," said Deborah Thiesen, a Tampa mother of 19-month old Jourdan. "They see breasts as sex, and when you add a baby into the mix, they just freak." That's why 18 moms and kids assembled by Promotion of Mother's Milk Inc., nursed their babies to promote awareness and help educate. The event came on the heels of ProMom's National Nurse OUT week, Aug. 1-7. Women participated in 80 cities throughout the United States and Canada, nursing in public places, said Thiesen, national coordinator for the event. Jourdan, who walked around the mall's tiled floor with a bobbing head and bouncing pigtails, had her own baby, Sassy, in a nursing sling around her shoulder. Breast-feeding is natural, Thiesen said. It's also much healthier for children, medical research suggests. Breast milk contains natural immunities created by the mothers to pass on to their children. These immunities help fight the spread of sickness and disease. They also lower the risk of asthma, allergies and other illnesses. Breast milk is free and convenient, as well. "It also creates a special bond between the mom and the child," said Heidi Buck, who coordinated Friday's event and breast-feeds two girls, Cheyla, 3, and Chloe, 17 months. Buck handed out stickers to babies and mothers. Chloe had her share, stuck on different places. "It's definitely not something to be embarrassed over," Buck said. Buck wore a special nursing dress that allows easier access for her daughters. She wore nursing beads around her neck to give Chloe and Cheyla something to play with. "That's a great idea," said one mom. "They're always grabbing on you-know-what." Jennifer Casler, who nurses her 10-week old daughter RaeAnna, said men won't stop staring when she's nursing. "It's just bizarre to them," she said. "It's always the guys," said Casler, from Holiday. "They're so interested. They want to see what you're doing. How it works." Casler said most mothers who nurse in public are discreet and said most people don't even notice that the baby's feeding. She said people approach her to see the baby and then run away once they realize what's happening. "Most people never notice," she said. Children prefer breast milk, Buck said. Her older daughter Cheyla returned to nursing after Chloe was born. Cheyla says she'll never stop. Nursing builds bonds, the moms say. Between mother and child.
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
