AntiNIP America, I can't stand it anymore

[velcromom]

Update on p.3! Let's take it to the next step!


I have a project taking shape in my mind and I’d like your input. I am so outraged and disappointed at the current antiNIP climate. I would like to do something that would help moms develop a healthy attitude toward NIP even when it’s not approved of, and to be as comfortable with it as they would like to be. I am thinking of developing some materials in a variety of media that are suitable for presentation and distribution to pg and nursing moms. Something that could be handed out, presented on its own or incorporated into an existing bf class. I am not sure at this point exactly what I want to cover, but I know it needs to be positive and encouraging.

I guess the last straw for me was when I saw an invention in a contest earlier this month that was designed to make it easier for a mom to sit on a toilet and nurse without falling in. I felt like the entire idea was based on a false premise, that nursing is something to hide and belongs in the same category with elimination, and the blanket acceptance of this idea in our society has me grinding my teeth to nubs.

So any suggestions are welcome, anything from categories of info to address, to a name for the project. I may even set up a website too so any ideas in that direction are also helpful.

[Janice in Canada]

when I saw an invention in a contest earlier this month that was designed to make it easier for a mom to sit on a toilet and nurse without falling in.

Wow do you have a link to that???? That's has got to be the stupidest thing! i wonder how much publicity we could get for that - to show how anti bfing, anti woman, anti child our society is. unbelievable.

Janice

[Janice in Canada]

more seriously to discuss your idea.

A friend of mine in Vancouver, BC (an artist) did a project where she put pictures of bfing moms on a postcard, with a quote from them on the flipside.

The idea was to print up a bunch, and hand them out all over, to get people to think about and talk about bfing. The more people are exposed to bfing, the more normal is becomes. (her project was called "normalizing bfing"). I also did something like this with the "Everyday Breastfeeding" Photo Contest that we ran in my home province, and the neighboring one. It got media attention, and we got over 100 pictures to use in health presentations, etc (Its really hard for health professionals to get normal pictures of moms breastfeeding in everyday life, beyond infancy, to use in presentations, teaching, brochures, etc). In fact, I'm thinking of making collecting bfing pictures an ongoing project. Donating your picture is a way that a mom can really support breastfeeding education.

I think the more that women can see bfing, the more normal it becomes. And until lots of women are bfing in public, pictures will have to stand in for them.

Maybe this will spark some ideas for you.

Janice

[jeca]

yes, please share a link that the dumbst thing I've heard in like...ever.

[velcromom]

http://ideashappen.msn.com/Search/SearchResults.aspx

There it is, can you believe submitted by a mom who says she breastfed? Yep, I can. This has got to change.

[jeca]

I'm sorry but she's a bloody nut job, she's pushing breastfeeding waaaaayyy back.

you have to actually search for it btw, it's called a discreet seat

[Janice in Canada]

Thanks goodness its not a real product, and I hope it never becomes one.

[stretchmark]

This is sickening!

[ckhagen]

As horrible as the idea sounds. I've pondered it myself more than once. I feel so awful feeding my baby sitting on a toilet, but some places make it so difficult to NIP (I live in the south, I think it's worse here), that I have no choice.

On topic. I think any amount of education would help. Unfortuantely the people who need the most education are the ones who make the nursing mother feel as if she's got to hide. I prefer to stay pretty covered up, it's my preference. I don't put blankets over DS, but I do position myself so that no one sees anything that I personally don't want them seeing. Problem is, some people just hate the 'idea' of it. Those are the ones that need the education. I do think that it would help to have more info handed out about it from the OBs or midwives etc...

[jeca]

I guess I just can't relate cause it's never even crossed my ind to go sit in the bathroom, why not just walk and feed her in a sling then?

[mollykatsmom]

Originally Posted by jeca

I guess I just can't relate cause it's never even crossed my ind to go sit in the bathroom, why not just walk and feed her in a sling then?

OT:Some of us can't! I am either sling impaired, or my gihungous G-cups just aren't compatible with slinging, walking, and nursing. They bounce and roll, doncha know, and the nipple falls out of dd's mouth, and then my boob is hanging sideways out of the sling, which is WAY more exposure than if I just sit down and nurse her. :

That said, I haven't encountered any problems NIP yet, and I'm in the south.

What about a campaign like the "got milk?" campaign, but with people nursing their babies, of all ages? You could call it, mmmm... "got milk?" JK! In all seriousness, I think more images of moms NIP in the media would do a world of good. Billboards, ads, characters in movies and tv.

--Deirdre

[soccerchic21]

A friend of mine in Vancouver, BC (an artist) did a project where she put pictures of bfing moms on a postcard, with a quote from them on the flipside.

I am a graphic designer and I would be willing to donate my services to this cause. I could help design the postcards for you if photos were provided to me.

Also if you call around you might find printers who would donate the printing for a good cause. That would save you money. I used to volunteer my graphics time for an auction for hunger and we found printers to donate all of the printing costs and that got up to 20,000 so I am sure you could find someone to donate for a postcard order.

[jeca]

Originally Posted by mollykatsmom

OT:Some of us can't! I am either sling impaired, or my gihungous G-cups just aren't compatible with slinging, walking, and nursing. They bounce and roll, doncha know, and the nipple falls out of dd's mouth, and then my boob is hanging sideways out of the sling, which is WAY more exposure than if I just sit down and nurse her. :

LMAO, good point Gcup.

[velcromom]

Originally Posted by ckhagen

Problem is, some people just hate the 'idea' of it. Those are the ones that need the education.

I agree but I have also found they are the most resistant to it. I have really decided to go after a more receptive audience and encourage moms to NIP in spite of a less than welcoming community. It will do the current generation of moms and babies good to know they are supported and learn ways to deal with disapproval, and it will affect the upcoming generation if they begin to see bf practised IRL as the everyday normal parenting activity it is.


So.... ideas for specific topics? What organizations to approach with this material? Distribute it myself? Present it where and by whom? How will I find money to do the project? How will I reach my target audience? Should I offer materials free or at a price?
I have thoughts for all of the following, please add your thoughts too...
Posters... very interested in bf images

Brochures

Booklets
Slide presentations

Flyers or single page info sheets

Contests are an interesting idea... what kind?

Website... don't know much about doing this but I do know there are free sites available...

lots of ideas for designing promo stuff. I can do that thru my cafepress shop but it's pretty expensive that way..

Heck, if I gather enough material about moms experiences, NIP cases, photos, etc. maybe I'll fulfill my lifelong desire to write a book.

and what the heck to call the project? You know all the programs have catchy names, don't want something too cutesy or corny....

I need to figure out what to focus on first, then take it from there. I can't work on all my ideas at once!



I have a lot to sort out! Any help is much appreciated!

[velcromom]

Thanks Soccerchic! I will put you on my list of potential volunteers and let you know what my needs are once I decide which idea to pursue first. I do like the idea of postcards, since it's something useful and maybe those handed one will be less likely to toss it they way they would a generic flyer. I do think that no matter which way I take this, posters may be one thing I do. I will have to find images that I can use. May end up creating my own.
Hmmm, questions, will PM you!

[sunshine*girl]

When I had my daughter I was given a booklet all about nursing. Maybe it was before she was born? I can't remember exactly when I got it. The book was a lifesaver! It gave me so much information and help with some problems. The best part is that there were pictures of bf moms at the start of each chapter-the children got older as you went through the book. There was at least one picture of a mom bf her toddler.

I thought that everyone in Canada got this book but maybe it is just in Nova Scotia? The book certainly made me more comfortable with the idea of NIP. And it made me so jealous of the moms in the book who got to have beautiful professional pics of them nursing their child.

[Milakais]

I'd love to help support this project as well. I'm a programmer/web developer (or at least, I was before going on maternity leave ), so I can help you out with constructing the website if you like.

[julie128]

How about writing letters to the writers of t.v. shows where a woman is pregnant asking them to write stories with her nipping? CA and Hollywood seem much more pro-bf and nip than the rest of the country. No one has every so much as giving me a dirty look while nipping, and quite the opposite many times.

[sophmama]

Love this idea

I love this idea. I think we should either start a NurseInPublic.org website (can somebody check and see if this exists - I doubt it. I'll try & see if I can find out.) or we should develop a format for local NIP photo contests and let different moms start them in there communities.

-Becky

[velcromom]

Yes that domain is currently available. So are a couple of other phrases I'm considering as names such as "nurse here now".

Milakais, I'd love your help. What do we do first?
Soccerchic, your skills would be a big help in creating a unique look for the website if you are available to help with this area of the project.
I will give you both my contact info so that we can communicate in a more efficient way.

It does seem that most important is to get the image of nursing in public out there, whether it be "live" moms or printed image. Janice mentioned a photo contest she knew of... maybe we could find out how that was organized and develop a format to hold contests thru the website.

I will need plenty of pictures of moms nursing babies and toddlers out in public. I bet lots of moms here have some, perhaps they'd donate their photos to help things get started.

Once I get a body of information together, then I need to bring it to the attention of both pg/nursing moms and those organizations who work with them, in addition to putting the "NIP is normal" message in front of the general public. These are all things I have no experience with so if any moms out there have skills in promotion, I welcome your ideas.

I'm so thrilled that there is interest in this project, thank you all for offering your ideas and skills. Keep'em coming!!