New Brunswick campaign aims to normalize breastfeeding in public places

A New Brunswick campaign promoting breastfeeding in public places aims to make women feel more comfortable nursing.

The #BreastfeedHereNB campaign is a partnership between Horizon Public Health and The Wellness Movement.

The campaign, which runs October 1-7, encourages staff at local businesses to wear buttons that promote breastfeeding in public. It also asks moms to take photos of themselves breastfeeding, and post them on social media with the hashtag ‘#BreastfeedHereNB’.

Horizon Public Health Dietitian Rachel Boleyn-LeBlanc says breastfeeding is a right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and says  there are many health benefits for mothers and infants. She says the campaign re-asserts that women have the right to breastfeed anywhere.

“We know that about 79 per cent of women start breastfeeding but by six months it’s about down to 21 per cent,” Boleyn-LeBlanc said.

She said one of the reasons women stop is because they don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public.

READ MORE:  N.B. public health launch breastfeeding selfie campaign to lift stigma

Mother Lindsay Morris gave birth to her second child two-and-a-half weeks ago. She said she’s never been in a situation where she’s felt uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, but prefers to cover-up when she nurses in public. She told Global News she respects moms who are completely public about it.

“I think it’s important that women feel comfortable; that they’re not afraid to feed their child,” Morris said.

Morris told Global News she’s disappointed by recent events in Montreal that resulted in a mother being asked to stop breastfeeding at a shopping centre.

READ MORE:  Montreal mother says mall security told her to stop breastfeeding in food court

“I feel bad for that mom that she, you know, would be made to feel that way that she has to get up and leave somewhere and isn’t allowed to feed her child, which is the most natural, normal thing,” Morris said.

She said campaigns like this one are important in helping end the stigma.