On Thursday, August 18th, 2011 I drove down to Zilker Park in Austin to see the Latch on America tour bus. The Big Pink Bus was on a 45-day nation wide tour, with visits in 30 or more cities! They advocate breastfeeding, evidence based information, and support of breastfeeding mothers. Here is a quote from their website:
"Our goals are to work collaboratively to empower pregnant and breastfeeding moms by connecting them to local experts and counselors, baby-friendly hospitals and birthing centers, support groups, and other mothers who are out there and want so much to help. Instantly, new moms will get the support, encouragement, and shoulder to lean on that they need to have a successful breastfeeding journey."
I chose a button that said "No pressure. Just support." And, as someone who visits a Farmer's market weekly and loves to "eat local", I decided to get one more button that said "Drink Local."
Check them out at http://www.milkforthought.com/
As a doula, I offer new moms support, information, encouragement and a shoulder to lean on. If the mom needs help from a breastfeeding expert, I offer resources. One of the most important things I offer is New Mom Circles. At the Latch on Event, there was an impromptu mom's circle as moms came and gathered together. I loved seeing the different shapes and sizes of breast fed babies, all healthy, all normal. One lady with a very adorable, chubby baby had this to say "My doctor told me that some moms produce cream."
I'm all for men advocating breastfeeding, but I was surprised when I only saw two men with the Latch on Tour. There were a lot of local breast feeding advocates there as well. Central Texas Doula Association doulas. Central Texas Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition selling calendars full of beautiful nursing art work. I had to buy one! Mother's Milk Bank had a table, with a mom and her daughter. Hospital nurses and lactation consultants were there too. And, of course, there were breast feeding mothers and their babies. My friend, Orieta Ender, a lactation consultant at Seton Williamson came with her baby. At under 2 months, and with a "Keep Austin Breastfeeding" onesie, he might have been the youngest advocate present!
© 2011 Sarah Webb, CD(DONA). All rights reserved.
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