by Mary Maley, AAHCC, CD(DONA), The Adirondack Council for Birthing Women

In a small town in upstate New York, at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, is a group of women who gather once a month to promote breastfeeding in public.  We call our gatherings The Breastfeeding Cafe.

It all started when a local midwife invited a group of women to go out to discuss ways we could promote breastfeeding in public for World Breastfeeding Week in August.  None of us were shy about breastfeeding our children in public!  We had a great time, sharing breastfeeding stories, a great meal, and had some hearty laughs.  It was at that gathering that my friend Lisa, who runs our birth network with me, and I thought..."Hey, why don't we do this every month and take it to a different restaurant each time".  We thought of different ideas that would benefit both moms and businesses.  At the same time, breastfeeding in public was getting some media attention from Ms Barbara Walters for making some controversial comments about a mother who breastfed next to her on a plane.  We used this momentum to get the 'Cafe' out into our  community.

We only go to locally owned restaurants to support our local business owners.  We approach them with the Breastfeeding Cafe idea and ask them if they would be interested in supporting breastfeeding  moms.  If so, we agree to meet at their restaurant on a rotating schedule with other participating restaurants.  We give them a sticker which says, "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" which they agree to put in a prominent place.  Usually on the front door or window.

Here are the benefits:

Good for Moms!
Women can rest assured if they see a business with our sticker, they will be able to have a comfortable environment in which to feed their child(ren).  Business owners also inform their staff thay cannot ask a women to move (to the bathroom for example) or leave the premises  when breastfeeding.  If there is a complaint from another customer they are instructed to explain to that person(s) that the mom has every right to do what she is doing.  The more public places we add on, the more comfortable women will be breastfeeding in public.  Research has shown a link between the amount of time a woman breastfeeds and the support she feels she gets.  Our gatherings are a time to receive support and gather information.  There is strength in numbers.  There is a certain dynamic that takes place and women leave feeling supported.  Maybe they had a rough week.  Maybe they came not knowing if they would continue breastfeeding.  When they leave, they are ready to keep going.  We also invite pregnant women because we feel the more they are   exposed to breastfeeding during their pregnancy, the more confident they will  be when it is time to nourish their children.  They also know they have a place to turn for support.  Women who are past their nursing years are also encouraged to come and give their input.  It is important for the next breastfeeding generation to hear their stories, gather their wisdom, and their love for motherhood. 

Good for Babies!
Babies are not being subjected to eating in the bathroom stall any more!  Babies can be fed on demand.  If mom is happy and comfortable; so is baby.  This experience is a continuation of the mother-baby bond that takes place during breastfeeding.

Good for Business!
We support our local economy.  We also reward them with our business.  You know women will support those that support them so we  feel business owners will get more business from our moms.  They are also listed in our breastfeeding friendly business directory.  All establishments that 'contract' with us are given this privilege.  We distribute these directories at all our events.  They also get free advertising in our newsletter.  It is a win-win situation.

Good for the Community!
It is no secret all the health benefits of breastfeeding.  Health care costs in this country would  be drastically reduced if more women breastfed and continued to do so through the first year and beyond.

Breastfeeding is good for moms, good for babies, good for business, and good for communities.  We  also plan on expanding this not only to restaurants but to other public places such as malls, parks, museums, etc.  Maybe you would like to start one in your community.

Mary Maley is a Certified Childbirth Educator with the Bradley Method and a Certified Birth Doula through DONA International.  She is Co-Director of a Birth Network called the Adirondack Council for Birthing Women in Glens Falls, NY.  She has four beautiful children.  All of whose births taught her how to trust, love, and believe in the normal process of birth.