Re: [ozmidwifery] Re: [hbo] Check out Hudson Valley Lactivism

[Barbara Glare & Chris Bright]

Hi,   Yes, there is a fabulous organisation like that in Australia.  It's volunteers advocate for the right of women in paid employment to continue to breastfeed their babies.  They have a fabulous Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace award.  You can see it here. http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/mfwp.html   They also work to inform the public of their rights to breastfeed anywhere, anytime, and to change public perceptions.  They lobby politicians to support breastfeeding and educate them on the benefits of breastfeeding.   On top of all this, their volunteers run a 24 hr per day 7 day per week breastfeeding support and counselling service.   They produce excellent resources and educational programs for health professionals.   They have the most comprehensive library of brestfeeding resources in the world.   They have been hard at in for more than 40 years.    Sound like the rice ad?  You will have guessed through the web addys that it's the Australian Breastfeeding Association.  Yes, the Australian Breastfeeding Association www.breastfeeding.asn.au Below is a piece that our breastfeeding friendly workplace co-ordinator, Sally  wrote for another list this week.  I hope it gives you a smile. "Today I attended a forum on childcare organised by Kate Lundy, ALP Senator for the ACT.  She had invited Tania Plibersek, Opposition Spokesperson on Child and Youth Affairs to give a run down on where the childcare debate is going and to get feedback from practitioners and parents on issues of concern. I got an opportunity to make a comment and did so from 3 perspectives - first as a newly returned employee saddened by the failure of my govt dept employer to include a childcare centre in its new buildings, secondly as a mother of a child in a community based/parent managed centre concerned at the corporatisation of childcare.  Then I put on my third hat - ABA - to mention that as someone who spends her volunteer time working to get workplaces BF friendly, I am keen to see the other half of the equation addressed - breastfeeding friendly childcare.  I let the meeting know of ABA's interest in the issue and of our failure to get funding for a pilot program to get a BF Frindly Childcare Accreditation program up and running. As I was making this third point, Tanya Plibersek's baby (well he was big and looked 12 months plus to me - all the better!) was wheeled in by presumably a nanny, and passed to his mum, who pulled up her top and put him on the breast!  I was in the middle of saying "allowing women to combine work and breastfeeding", turned to my left, saw what was happening and added..."as Tanya is so ably doing right here...!!"  Kate Lundy, who has breastfed her babies at work in Parliament, was beaming, and the whole room just did an "aaah" type thing.  It was just gorgeous - and I couldn't have made my point better or more on cue if I had tried!!  Kate later spoke to me and was really supportive of the work we do and the ideas, so wants me to follow up with her.  Other childcare workers wanted to get more info too, so all up it was a lunch hour well spent.  And then as I left Parliament, I got to wave to the king and queen of Sweden.  Shame I had to return to the office...!!" - Sally Barb     ----- Original Message ----- From: Emily To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 9:59 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Re: [hbo] Check out Hudson Valley Lactivism hi everyone anyone know of any similar groups in australia? i liked their idea of handing out information at public places re breastfeeding laws and rights to increase awareness and acceptance. going in to workplaces to educate workers about rights for breastfeeding/expressing breaks and providing legal support for discrimination sounds great too.. how many australian employers would hire someone known to be breastfeeding who needed breaks every few hours? probably few and i think people would be too scared to ask . ideally i think we need to move towards more baby friendly workplaces where bubs go along with mum to work, like in most places in the world. but it sounds too extreme to even bring up in our current cultural climate of children and work life being so separate do many of you have experience of working with a baby in tow? do the hb mw's take their babies to births at all? love emily jenndoula <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Run by a homebirthing Momma!! Hi everyone! Below you'll find the complete text of our letter announcing our fundraiser and arrival of our new website www.hvlactivism.org. Even if you don't consider yourself a "Lactivist" I would encourage you to take a look at the artwork we have available. There are some beautiful mom, baby and grandparent pictures that you certainly don't have to be breastfeeding to love. And I know I want one for Christmas, you could also point your husbands our way for an excellent gift idea. If you have any questions and want to ask me feel free to e-mail me directly. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks! Kim Hudson Valley Lactivism was founded a mere two weeks before the July 13th Nurse-In at the Poughkeepsie Journal Building. Since then we have been continuing on with our mission of breastfeeding ad! vocacy and education by distributing the laws regarding nursing in public, and information about the benefits of breastfeeding. Now we want to move ahead with projects such as breastfeeding friendly gift bags for local hospitals, a breastfeeding friendly business directory, and supporting breastfeeding friendly legislation. All of these plans to improve our community will take support, and that is where you come in. We are proud to announce the arrival of our new website, HVLactivism.org as a first step to the many exciting projects we have coming. Hudson Valley Lactivism is now offering select prints by internationally known artist Shawn Dell Joyce. Her work, included in the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is available signed with all proceeds going to promote breastfeeding throughout our area. This offer is only available until December 1st, and all orders will be received by Chri! stmas. A signed print would make a wonderful gift for the mothers, grandmothers, midwifes and doulas in your life! For questions, pricing, ordering information and how to make a donation, please visit our website: www.hvlactivism.org and click on the scrolling fundraiser banner. SPONSORED LINKS Midwife Giving birth Homebirth Nurse midwife YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS  Visit your group "homebirthonline" on the web.    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.