Breasts ..Thats what they're for!

This is a postcard sent from Norway. The Stavanger chapter of Ammehjelpen had the picture taken by a local photographer for the ad. Helsekost means "healthfood" and Gode råd om amming means "Good advice on Breastfeeding." This picture was shown as a slide before every feature length film in the cinemas of Stavanger in 1994 as an ad for the Ammehjelpen services in that city. Check out their Web site for breastfeeding information in Norweigian. You can also order cards or T-shirts (I have one. It's great!) at http://www.ammehjelpen.no/ or email Rachel at mailto:newman@globalserve.net for more information.
80% of women breast feed in Norway.

Boycott Nestle Campaign

Smartass idiot Brendan O Neill from Spiked has a go at breast feeding campaigners. Any opportunity to mention Katie Price, also known as Jordan, the British ‘glamour’ model who doesn’t shock us feminists, no - she's a sad woman. What does he know about breastfeeding that every child health expert doesn't. Breasts, tits...Thats for they're for love!

In the current issue of the celebrity magazine OK!, Jordan can clearly be seen feeding her three-week-old daughter, Princess Tiaamii, (poor child to be given a name like that) from a bottle which says ‘SMA’ on it, SMA being one of the leading manufacturers of formula milk for babies.. A headline in yesterday’s Independent on Sunday put it: ‘Breastfeeding lobby criticises Jordan for infant formula “stunt”.’ Groups such as the National Childbirth Trust and Baby Milk Action have rightly been appalled at the lengths to which companies appear to go to promote their products. There is a ban in Britain on promoting infant formula for babies under the age of six months, and some suspect that the photo-shoot is an ‘appalling’ cynical attempt from SMA to circumvent the ban.

According to a government survey, 34% of mothers incorrectly believe that formula is the same or almost the same as breastfeeding. Portrayals of formula feeding as a lifestyle choice propagate what the Department of Health calls 'myths' If you want to register complaints yourself you can do so following links at: http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2836179.ece

Protect UK babies and mothers

Watch the film and play the game to protect Little Jack.

Action: July - September 2007 In the UK, nine in ten mothers who gave up breastfeeding within six months would have preferred to breastfeed for longer. Lack of support and aggressive marketing by baby food companies means that formula is too often seen as the answer if a mother has difficulties breastfeeding.

According to the Government's own survey, 34% of mothers incorrectly believe that infant formula is the same or almost the same as breastfeeding (ref: Myths stop mothers giving their babies the best start in life). An independent survey found more than a third of mothers thought formula was 'as good' or 'better than' breastmilk (ref: UNICEF/NCT survey). Companies promote their products with 'closer to breastmilk' and other claims that are not permitted under existing regulations.

I think a mother has a right to accurate information about infant feeding free from commercial pressure and she should be supported to breastfeed as long as she wishes A broad coalition of UK health worker organisations and mother support groups agree and are calling for the UK law on the marketing of formula to be strengthened and enforced.

A great cartoon giving more information has been produced by coalition members the National Childbirth Trust, UNICEF and Save the Children. Watch the cartoon, play the game to help protect babies, then send a message to the Health Minister, Alan Johnson MP.

Find the cartoon and information about other action you can take at :http://www.babymilkaction.org/action/ukaction07.html

Nestle Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 1963 - contact details here. For suggested letter - click here. Send a message calling on the Governmentto strengthen the law.
Sign up to the Breastfeeding Manifesto campaign.
Join Baby Milk Action or buy something to help fund the campaign - we receive no funding for UK work at present