Breastfeeding Campaigns

                The decision to breastfeed for an expecting mom is tough and personal one.  As a mom, you want to take care of your baby the best you can.  You get advice from almost everyone around you and they are not afraid to tell about the good, the bad and the ugly experiences.  As we talk about the ad campaign that was revamped because some very influential entities found out about it, I find it disturbing that the makers of infant formula, concerned about their bottom line, were able to manipulate a government entity to change an ad campaign.  However,  I don’t believe the HHS scare tactic is the way to go. I feel like shaming mothers into breastfeeding is not the way to increase the numbers, as there are more factors that play into the decision.  Providing education, presenting the statistics and allowing the families to make the best decision for them is more important than showing a “nipple-tipped insulin bottle” with the verbiage “40% chance of suffering Type I diabetes” (Kaufman & Lee, 2007).

                Interestingly enough, there was a recent campaign here in town where life size cardboard cutouts were placed in public areas with moms breastfeeding. They were not revealing or crude. They had moms holding their babies in the 'breastfeeding position' with blankets around their shoulders.  While some thought the campaign was great and spurred conversations, there were complaints logged by women and men alike.  They felt uncomfortable and felt that the cutouts were inappropriate for public display, demanding they be removed.  This is a positive approach to normalizing breastfeeding.  What do you think? 

Kaufman, M., & Lee,C,. (2017,August 31). HSS Toned Down Breast-Feeding Ads. Washington Post, Article 7,PARS International