Mothers challenge taboo at 'Big Breastfeed' demo
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-10-23 16:18
PARIS - One hundred young mothers gathered to breastfeed their babies in
central Paris afternoon to campaign against the taboo on nursing in public.
"There are lots of prejudices against breastfeeding, especially in
professional environments," said Marie-France Astoin, coordinator for the Big
Breastfeed demonstration outside Paris's Sainte Eustache church, one of several
taking place simultaneously in France's major cities.
Mothers breastfeed their babies in
Paris during a gathering to show that breasfeeding still exist in France.
[AFP] | Astoin decried France's level of
breastfeeding, which at around 50 percent, is the lowest in Europe.
During the World Health Organisation's International Breastfeeding Week, the
UN body and partner organisations are trying to promote mother's milk as a
newborn's best defence against diarrhoea and respiratory infection.
"It's not at all a new feminist fight," said Monica, mother of Raphael.
"Nothing beats a mother's milk, it's natural, so why give something
artificial in its place?"
Nearby, a young father ambled past wearing a placard marked "breast is best".
The Big Breastfeed movement kicked off in Manilla, the Philippines, six
months ago, where Unicef gathered 5,000 mothers with their babies in an attempt
to beat the world record for simultaneous nursing.
"The photo of this gathering has travelled around the world and a young woman
from (the southern French port city) Marseille, Perle Hugot, decided to do the
same thing here," said Astoin.
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