Breasts welcome here!
While shopping at the new Nordstrom store near my house a few weeks ago - I was pleasantly surprised to discover this sign in the ladies room:
This was the result of a contest sponsored by Mothering.com not too long ago to try to find a universal symbol for breastfeeding mothers. Frustrated by the fact that most mother’s rooms are designated by a bottle - as seen below (also at the same Nordstrom) - Mothering magazine (and the website) wanted a symbol that would promote and encourage breastfeeding and have a universally recognizable symbol to signify an area for mothers and their children.
I was familiar with the contest and loved the winning design, but this is the first time I have seen the image used in real life. The winner has signed this symbol over to public domain - so hopefully more and more businesses and public areas will be posting this icon and we will be seeing the symbol used more often than the bottle symbol to represent the feeding of a baby.
Speaking of breastfeeding - as I continue to extoll the benefits of breastfeeding in my daily life (to anyone who will listen), and in the interest of putting my money where my mouth is (so to speak - actually it is where Sammy’s mouth is) I have decided to become a breastmilk donor. Since Sam is starting to eat more solids, and I have an abundant milk supply and I am lucky enough that breastfeeding came easily to me, I am going to be sharing that goodness with premature babies and other critically ill babies in desperate need of the best nutrition, the nutrition that only breastmilk can provide.
I would encourage other lactating mommies out there to do the same - the company I am using is Milkin’ Mamas - but you can go to www.milkbanking.net to see how you can become a donor.
Breast is best!
Good for you! What a wonderful thing to do! Setting a good example for your daughter, too. I had no idea there were so many places banking breast milk for sick babies.
Comment by Aunt Paule — August 1, 2008 @ 11:45 am
notice that the mother’s room is the one with the breastfeeding and the women’s lounge is the one with the bottle. only mothers can breastfeed!
Comment by Gina — August 2, 2008 @ 7:01 am