Great news, breastfeeding in public is now legal in all 50 states! Utah and Idaho have new laws that protect nursing mothers. And just in time for World Breastfeeding Week!
 It’s a little strange to think that until this point, breastfeeding in public was technically illegal in these states. As a country, we’ve been behind in this area. The U.K., Australia, and other countries already have legislation protecting breastfeeding mothers, according to USA Today.
But that’s all past now! The important thing is, all mothers should feel comfortable feeding their babies in public, whether by breast, bottle, sippy cup, eye dropper, etc. However, with World Breastfeeding Week kicking off on August 1st, prepare to hear a lot about the benefits of breastfeeding.
About World Breastfeeding Week
Since its creation in 1990, World Breastfeeding Week has aimed “to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world,” according to the World Health Organization. This year, organizers hope to draw special attention to the importance of breastfeeding within the first hour of a baby’s life. Immediate breastfeeding begins the important work of establishing a mom’s milk supply and provides a newborn with colostrum, the extremely thick and nutrient-rich milk that a mama makes soon after delivering.
Promoting and normalizing breastfeeding in developing countries is of particular importance to the organizers behind World Breastfeeding Week. In places where poverty is rampant, breastfeeding can mean the difference between life and death for some babies. Preventing malnutrition, ensuring food security at all times, and breaking the cycle of poverty: breastfeeding can help with all three issues, according to organizers.
Here in the U.S., we have less (but not no) concern about babies getting enough to eat. But we have plenty of issues with normalizing breastfeeding in public. Hopefully the fact that it is now legal in absolutely every state will get us on track to accepting breastfeeding for what it is: one way for a mama to feed her baby.
Happy World Breastfeeding Week, mamas! However you feed your baby, we support you.
