Local Group Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

Utica, NY (WIBX) - People and organizations throughout the world are celebrating the importance of breastfeeding this week. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year and a local group, Mohawk Valley Breastfeeding Network is holding week long events titled, "Let's Talk About Breastfeeding".

Group President, Susan Niedzielski says part of marking the occasion is to reach out to fathers because they play a vital role in a woman's success in breastfeeding. "I love to talk to dads because a lot of men do think of breasts as a very sexual part of our body and you know what I have said to some men is, 'When you make love or when you are intimate with a woman, do you use your hands? And yet hands are used in many other ways.' Breasts are a sexual object in our society--not in lots of societies--but they also can be used for other purposes." She says it's important for father's to be supportive of a mother breastfeeding because it's a fragile time for both mom and baby.

Niedzielski runs a breastfeeding cafe every Wednesday in Utica and says when it comes to the larger debate about whether to breast feed a baby in public, mother's are protected under the law. She says, "Luckily we live in a very progressive state. New York State has a law that says that a mother has a right to breast feed where ever she has a right to be." She says the benefits of breast feeding is beneficial to both mom and baby. She says a woman's chance of getting breast cancer is decreased by 30-percent when she breastfeeds. "Diabetes is an epidemic in our country as is obesity, breast feeding lowers the risk of both diabetes and obesity so, it's not a small matter--it's not a choice between chocolate and vanilla, it's a choice between increased health risks and decreased health risks," she said.

The Breastfeeding Picnic is scheduled for 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. today. It's taking place on the lawn at the corner of Sunset and Barton Avenue near Evelyn's House. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to share. The group hosts a Breastfeeding Cafe every Wednesday at Lady of Lourdes Church 2222 Genesee Street. To learn more about the event go to, www.facebook.com/BreastfeedingCafe. You can also find information at www.healthyeatingfrombirth.com.