electricalgwen

Six months ago today, the earthquake hit Haiti.

MSF (Doctors Without Borders) has issued a report outlining the damage, the challenges, the work done, and the ongoing needs. Available for download here.

You may have noticed that breastfeeding's hit the news the past few days, being linked to higher IQ and lower rates of childhood obesity, as well as lowering the future risk of breast cancer for mothers. Its many other benefits are known to include decreased rates of asthma and allergies in children, decreased ear, chest and gastrointestinal infections, decreased employee absences, and big savings to the public health care system.

Personally, I love it not least because I was back in my regular jeans by 2 weeks *g*. Plus, it's cheap, ecologically friendly, and it makes travelling so easy.

Anyway, a number of child and women's health organizations put together the Breastfeeding Manifesto a while back, to improve awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding and, importantly, its role in reducing health inequalities. They're using it to lobby the government to bring in legislation that promotes breastfeeding in several ways, including protecting women's right to breastfeed in public places and "encouraging greater social acceptance of this natural and important practice." They're also asking for increased protection and support for women who want to keep breastfeeding upon returning to work. Right now, although the WHO encourages exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of age, fewer than 2% of UK babies are exclusively breastfed at 6 months.

While I think social acceptance will take a while and is not something that can be legislated, there's no question that knowing I had the *right* to breastfeed (in Canada, with my first child) gave me the courage to do so in places and situations where I worried how people would react. All MPs were sent a copy of the Manifesto in May and asked for their support. As of 3 weeks ago, my local MP had not signed it.

So I emailed him. And he wrote back. He's now signed it and pledged to support it in the House. I think this the first time I've written to a politician and achieved an actual result. A small (baby?) step, but still. :D

So... I would be really grateful if you would take a minute to check out the Manifesto website where you can take a few seconds to sign the petition, if you are so inclined, and check if your local MP has signed it or not. And if s/he hasn't, and you feel really keen...

Thanks!