March 5 and 6, 2016
V
V
V
THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS
V
V
Page 3
V
KENDRA JOHNSON/GAZETTE
Lyon County Historical Society Executive Director Greg Jordan talks to Allison
Garrett while giving her a tour of the new the history center.
KENDRA JOHNSON/GAZETTE
Tennley Vik gives her son, Søren, a kiss after breastfeeding him at Java Cat on
Friday, Feb. 19.
BREASTFEED
From PAGE 1
more friendly toward breastfeeding families.
“Really the goal is to get
more community and business support for breastfeeding for the first year at least,”
Heather Aylward, director
of the Women’s Life Center
at Newman Regional Health
said. “After two months the
rate of breastfeeding really
drops off.”
The following businesses
have taken the pledge:
✦✦Studio 11 Boutique
✦✦Jim’s Cowboy Shop
✦✦Sax’s Hair Salon
✦✦Grave’s Drug
✦✦Emporia Quick Lane
✦✦John North Ford
✦✦Roller’s
✦✦Emporia Public Library
✦✦Holiday Resort
✦✦Flint Hills Technical
College
✦✦Radius Brewing Co.
✦✦Wright’s Auto Sales
✦✦Orange Leaf
✦✦Java Cat
✦✦Second Love
✦✦Kari’s Diamonds
✦✦Emporia Livestock
✦✦Midas Touch
✦✦Rhinestone’s & Rust
✦✦Mel’s Tire
✦✦Gambino’s Pizza
✦✦Olpe Service Center
✦✦Studio 50-4
✦✦Medicine Shoppe
✦✦El Lorito
Angie Baker, owner of
Java Cat, is one business
owner that was happy to
display the signage when
asked. As a mother who
breastfed her own children
when they were small she
recognizes the importance
of having a welcoming environment for mothers and
children.
“I breastfed both of my
kids,” Baker said. “And
sometimes mom’s have to
go places and take their kids
with them. When your kids
are hungry you have to feed
them.”
Baker recalls a negative
encounter she experienced
when breastfeeding her son
years ago.
“I had a really bad experience in a mall in New Haven, Connecticut,” Baker
said. “An old man screamed
at me and I was sitting on a
bench by an elevator with
two big indoor palm trees
next to me with the blanket
over my son’s head. My son
kicked the blanket back for a
split second and this guy just
lost it and yelled at me. I was
so mortified that I stopped
feeding him and went out to
my car … all the way through
this huge mall with him
screaming bloody murder
because he was hungry.”
Baker and members of
the Kansas Breastfeeding
Coalition want to ensure
that mothers don’t have
difficult encounters when
breastfeeding. In Kansas,
80 percent of mothers initiate breastfeeding. Mothers
are more likely to patronize
businesses where they feel
comfortable.
The American Academy
of Pediatrics recommends
exclusive breastfeeding for
six months and continued
breastfeeding for a minimum of one year. The World
Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a
minimum of two years. The
American Academy of Pediatrics says that the lack of
support for breastfeeding
is one of the obstacles to its
success.
“If our culture embraces
breastfeeding as the normal way to feed babies and
young children, more women will breastfeed and the
KENDRA JOHNSON/GAZETTE
Construction continues on the new location for the Lyon County History Center on
Tuesday, Feb. 23.
CENTER
From PAGE 1
Frequently asked questions
about breastfeeding
Q How long should babies be breastfed?
A The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
exclusive breastfeeding for six months and
continued breastfeeding for a minimum of one
year. The World Health Organization recommends
breastfeeding for a minimum of two years.
Q What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
A Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of getting
breast and ovarian cancers. Additionally their babies
are less likely to develop a whole host of illnesses
from ear infections to diabetes and obesity.
Q Why can’t the mother just bring a bottle or nurse
before she leaves home?
A Breastfeeding is a complex biological relationship
that can be disrupted by bottle-feeding. Babies
often eat on an irregular schedule and it is important
to feed the baby when he or she is hungry.
Q Why can’t the mother just go in the bathroom and
breastfeed in private?
A A bathroom is not a hygenic place to feed a baby by
breast or by bottle.
Q Are there really that many mothers breas