Supporters of breastfeeding will gather for the Nationwide Nurse-In 2017 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at the Downtown Post Office in Texarkana.
"The event is to help raise awareness for public breastfeeding and workplace accommodations for pumping mothers," said Lalanya Sorensen, a member of Wadley Regional Medical Center's Breastfeeding support group. "Texas and Arkansas have some great laws for breastfeeding and pumping. Our main objective here in Texarkana is really a feel-good event to help support and encourage our local breastfeeding moms."
Mothers will be nursing their children at the event. Supporters of breastfeeding are invited to attend. Educational material about breastfeeding will be available to people interested in learning more about it.
"A breastfeeding mantra I go by is 90 percent determination and 10 percent milk supply. It's very rewarding but sometimes it can be stressful and a lot of work, so I've used that mantra myself many days. There are so many health benefits of breastfeeding. It's great for both mom and baby, so I think that's a key factor," Sorensen said.
The local Nurse-in is part of a nationwide effort to bring attention to breastfeeding laws and to help end public breastfeeding and workplace pumping discrimination and harassment.
"I've never been shamed out in public personally, but a lot of my friends have and it can be discouraging," said Kristen Moya, event organizer. "Sometimes other moms just need that extra support someone just to tell them they can do it. It doesn't matter if other people disagree with it. If it at least helps one person, then I feel like I've done a good job."
In the event of rain, the nurse-in will take place at 1st Choice Pregnancy Center, 602 Main St., Texarkana, Texas.
For more information, email [email protected].