Nevermind, finished and sent. I am sharing in case anyone needs help in writing their own letter:
Dear Sirs and Madams,
I am writing to contact all of you today about the new breastfeeding law that has recently been passed in Tennessee. I applaud your efforts to protect the rights of mother's to feed their children as God and nature intended. I am currently breastfeeding my 22 month old son and visit Tennessee at least once a month. I am very disappointed to see that the law that has been passed in your state discriminates against the right of a mother to breastfeed her child in a location where she otherwise has a place to be because that child has passed his first birthday. The exact portion of the law that I am referring to states:
"A mother has a right to breastfeed her child who is twelve (12) months of age or younger in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be present."
I feel that this age limitation is arbitrary and contradictory to the current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the World Health Organization.
"Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth. Infants weaned before 12 months of age should not receive cow's milk feedings but should receive iron-fortified infant formula. Gradual introduction of iron-enriched solid foods in the second half of the first year should complement the breast milk diet. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."
"The AAFP recommends that all babies, with rare exceptions, be breastfed and/or receive expressed human milk exclusively for about the first six months of life. Breastfeeding should continue with the addition of complementary foods throughout the second half of the first year. Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired."
American Academy of Family Physicians Policy Statement
"As a global goal for optimal maternal and child health and nutrition, all women should be enabled to practice exclusive breastfeeding and all infants should be fed exclusively on breastmilk from birth to four to six months of age. Thereafter, children should continue to be breastfed, while receiving appropriate and adequate complementary foods, for up to two years of age or beyond. This child-feeding ideal is to be achieved by creating an appropriate environment of awareness and support so that women can breastfeed in this manner."
World Health Organization, The WHO/UNICEF Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
I cannot find enough words to voice my displeasure at the direct refusal made by the state of Tennessee to protect the rights of a breastfeeding mother simply because her baby has passed her first birthday. The notion that babies should not be breastfed past one year is one that has been pushed by formula companies because most formula fed babies are switched to cow's milk at one year of age.
I am making a plea to all of you to correct this law to protect the rights of all breastfeeding mothers, regardless of the age of her baby, as my home state of Kentucky has done in their law. I appreciate your time and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
