It brought unnecessary humiliation to a new mother recently at a popular Vancouver attraction, and other moms are constantly embarrassed and discriminated against for doing in public what nature intended.

Breastfeeding is creating a buzz.

Although health professionals recommend it and the number of advocacy groups supporting breastfeeding are thicker than hair on a newborn’s head, there is still a stigma attached to nursing a baby in public.

The week of Oct. 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week, and for the 18th year, people around the globe will be celebrating that gentle, motherly art. 100 Mile House will be celebrating on Oct. 8 at the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre.

This year, the worldwide theme revolves around the critical role of breastfeeding before, and during, an emergency. At the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre and several other agencies in 100 Mile House, however, its importance is 24/7 to ensure babies begin life with all of the natural defences they can get.

Linda Savjord is a course facilitator and home visitor with the Enrichment Centre’s, which offers a wide array of support for families.

One of her key roles is supporting breastfeeding among new moms, and she understands some of the frustrations they can feel.

“Moms need support and education. People don’t realize it can take up to six weeks for breastfeeding babies to become well established and it happens best with mom and baby at the breast, without the use of bottles and soothers.”

Savjord can’t seem to say enough about how important that attachment is.

“Breast milk is the perfect food for the human baby and formulas that are made from cow’s milk just can’t compare. It contains antibodies for the immune system, so if a mom is exposed to germs, the mother’s system creates immunity, which goes into the milk and gives resistance to the baby.”

She adds breast milk changes with the baby and plays a part in preventing both disease and allergies.

“It’s recommended that people exclusively breastfeed for the first six months before introducing solids as the early introduction of food can promote allergies and other conditions. Health Canada recommends breastfeeding continue for two years and beyond.”

Savjord says that interestingly enough, they don’t often have to convince moms to breastfeed.

“Most moms want to do it, but that wasn’t the case several years ago. Now, people have heard enough that breastfeeding is the best and there’s no comparison. In my mind, it’s a human right to breastfeed anytime, anywhere. It’s a human right to eat and that’s how babies are fed,” she adds.

“Anything beyond that is just what society has decided. You can go to other countries where breastfeeding is so common the people won’t even turn an eye.”

There was never a question in the mind of new mom, Jen Painchaud, on whether she was going to breastfeed her newborn, Johnathan.

“It’s really important for me because I know it’s best for my baby. I know he’s getting the antibodies and all the right stuff, but sometimes it’s really hard.”

With the great effort she’s invested and the knowledge she has, Painchaud is not about to give an inch to negative societal views on breastfeeding in public.

“I was uncomfortable being around people

who breastfed in public before I had my own baby, but now it’s a different story. I thought I’d cover up at first, but I just don’t care now. It’s natural.”

Christie Wells is a second-time mom, with baby Leah at 7 1/2 weeks of age and Colin at 2 1/2.

She breastfed Colin until he was 23 months old, until she found out she was pregnant with Leah.

Although it was much more challenging than she’d imagined at first, she realized it was just a matter of she and Colin learning how to breastfeed together. It got easier as time went on, Wells says, adding she would have continued to breastfeed Colin for some time if she hadn’t become pregnant.

She says breastfeeding in public is dictated by the circumstances.

“If I’m in a restaurant, for instance, with men, I feel uncomfortable, but I really wish I didn’t. The age of the people around me makes a difference, too. My grandmother told me she’d go home to breastfeed when she had to, so out of respect for older people, I cover up.

“I think I feel uncomfortable because people see breasts as a sexual thing, but they have a function. I’m feeding my baby,” she says. “I get really frustrated when I feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, but the more women who do, the more comfortable people will be with it.”

For Kelly Rutledge, breastfeeding her first-born, Maddy, 12 years ago was painful to the point of tears.

“It’s not as easy as it looks. The advice I’d give to a new mom is take all the help and advice as you can get.”

It was considerably easier with her second child, Avery, and now with six-week-old, Juniper, it’s a breeze, she says.

Breastfeeding in public, too, has also become easier for her.

“At first, I was pretty uncomfortable with it and always hid under a receiving blanket. Now it’s

like, whatever. You can listen to her (Juniper) scream or you can watch me feed her.”

With two pre-teens and a newborn under her wing, breastfeeding can mean the difference between sanity and losing it, Rutledge says, adding there are hockey practices, 4-H meetings and a host of other child-related activities that keep the family constantly on the go.

Thankfully, breast milk is always available and ready whenever and wherever Juniper has a hunger pang, she notes.

“It’s the handiest, easiest and cheapest way to go.”

Kjersten Dunk, the 100 Mile House La Leche League leader, agrees. She has passionately held that position for 13 years after moving to 100 Mile to find there was no local organization.

Dunk travelled back and forth to Williams Lake to attend La Leche League meetings for some time before taking leader’s training and starting the local chapter.

What she offers the two dozen moms she sees each year is a chance to discuss issues common to breastfeeding families, along with a combination of wisdom and experience.

What she doesn’t offer is any hard, fast rules for breastfeeding.

“Every mom and baby are unique and every mother is the expert of her own situation.”

Dunk is available by phone any time at 250-395-1014.

The local public health nurses are also a prime source of support and can be reached by calling 250-395-7676.

Any parents, whether breastfeed-

ing or not, are invited to share in the

World Breastfeeding Celebration Oct. 8, starting at 11 a.m.

at the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre. Lunch will

be provided.