The Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service is delighted to see this new initiative from The Warehouse. Making it easier for women to breastfeed when they are out and about in the community is a significant action to remove one of the many barriers women face when they breastfeed. Breastfeeding advocacy is about helping to remove the barriers to breastfeeding that women may experience. This involves a wide range of activities, but businesses making it easier by posting breastfeeding welcome signage and actively supporting breastfeeding, is really important. The community needs breastfeeding friendly cafes, libraries, swimming pools, shops and malls — anywhere mothers, babies and children spend time and have a right to be. Women will think more about breastfeeding in public as being perfectly normal if they see others breastfeeding. This is all part of protecting breastfeeding and supporting women to breastfeed. World Breastfeeding Week 2017 is all about working together for the common good. #WBW2017 calls on advocates and activists, and decision makers to work together. It’s great to see The Warehouse making this pledge of support. Supporting breastfeeding also links with the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty and protect the planet. For the goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part: Breastfeeding links into this agenda as it is the only sustainable means of feeding a baby, it has a zero carbon footprint, and it makes a significant positive impact on the health of women and children. To read the story about The Warehouse follow this link – http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/baby/breastfeeding/90486912/the-warehouse-welcomes-new-mothers-to-breast-feed-anywhere-in-store
