City Launches Whenever Wherever - We All Benefit Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign
8/1/2012 -
City Launches Whenever Wherever - We All Benefit Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign
In celebration of the World Breastfeeding Week, city launches effort to increase acceptance of breastfeeding in public spaces
What: Tomorrow in honor of World Breastfeeding Week, the City of Portland’s Public Health Division, the Opportunity Alliance and Healthy Maine Partnerships of Southern Maine will announce the launch of a new breastfeeding campaign, Whenever Wherever/We All Benefit with City of Portland Mayor Michael Brennan, representatives from Casco Bay Lines and a group of breastfeeding moms. The vision of the campaign is to inspire people and the community to adopt an attitude that supports and celebrates nursing moms whenever, wherever they need to breastfeed. Whenever Wherever businesses will display Whenever Wherever – We Welcome Nursing Moms decals in prominent places, train employees on how to handle issues like complaints of a mom nursing in public and pledge to support breastfeeding moms by prohibiting harassment or mistreatment of moms nursing in open and public spaces.
Operations Manager for the Casco Bay Lines Nicholas Mavodones will share the reasons why the ferry service is participating not only as an employer in support of employees in their decision to nurse but also as a provider of public transportation to thousands of people every day, many of whom are nursing moms.
Breastfeeding is recognized as the standard for infant feeding by all major health organizations including the US Surgeon General. Breast milk provides the best nutritional and immunological nurturance for normal growth and development. Breastfeeding protects babies from infections and illnesses that include diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia and breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma or become obese. Currently only 41.2% of babies in Maine are breastfed for the first six months. The national Healthy People 2010 goal is 61%. Beyond the health benefits there are many economic benefits of breastfeeding. A recent study published in Pediatrics estimated that if 90% of US families breastfed for first six months of life, the US would save $13 billion from reduced medical and other costs. Furthermore, Mutual of Omaha found that health care costs for newborns are three times lower for babies whose mothers participate in the company’s employee maternity and lactation program.
For more information about the campaign, visit weallbenefit.org.
Who: Mayor Brennan will be joined by Casco Bay Lines Operations Manager and Portland City Councilor Nicholas Mavodones, Zoe Miller of Opportunity Alliance and Rebecca Flaherty, a nursing mom. A group of nursing moms will be seated throughout the park, demonstrating the city’s support of making sure open spaces are welcoming for women who are breastfeeding in public.
“If every community makes the commitment like Portland has to help families feel comfortable breastfeeding as they go about their daily lives, we will succeed in raising a healthier generation,” stated Mayor Brennan. “We need to support moms and their families whenever, wherever and I encourage local businesses to join the city in supporting nursing moms by joining the campaign.”
When: Wednesday, August 1, 2012
11:30 PM
Where: Bell Buoy Park, Commercial Street (adjacent to Maine State Pier)
Portland
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