One mum takes to Facebook to point out the great support for breastfeeding mums in a recent episode of Love Child.

Love Child is based in 1970s Kings Cross. The Vietnam War is dividing the world, music and the media are shifting old ideals, and the lines between friendship, love and marriage are blurring.

Melbourne mum of two Deidre Turner is a strong breastfeeding advocate. After watching this weeks episode of Love Child, Deidre was proud to point out the message in the latest show.

Deidre writes, “As It is World Breastfeeding Week and some of the issues facing breastfeeding mums were brilliantly dealt with on Love Child last night.

Annie gives birth to a premature infant who needs to spend some time in the hospital. He is given formula early on. When Annie attempts to breastfeed, she is actively discouraged from doing this by Matron. When she faces challenges she is told by her partner to ‘just give him the bottle’. Annie is a fighter and she insists on the support, Matron relents and gives Annie the helpful advice she could’ve provided in the first place.

Although Love Child is set in 1970 and things have improved since then, the barriers Annie faces in this clip are still a constant struggle for mums wanting to breastfeed today. Ask for help and well-meaning family, friends and even medical professionals tell you to give up. Women who wish to breastfeed DESERVE the right to support.

On almost a daily basis I hear of another case of a mother trying to breastfeed and meeting with discouragement and bad advice from her partner, her family and even her medical professionals.

As Annie aptly states ‘it does matter!’ It’s time people stopped telling us it doesn’t. Breastfeeding matters, human milk for human babies matters.
This is why breastfeeding week matters. It’s not about shoving anything in anyone’s face or shaming anyone. It’s about education, support and promotion for those women who wish to breastfeed and face barriers. Breastfeeding is a learned behaviour, we need to see it happening around us regularly to know how it is done and be comfortable with it.”

Her post has had over 7K views.

ABA shares World Breastfeeding Week 2016 focuses on breastfeeding as a key element to sustainable development. This year we are encouraged to think about how to value our wellbeing from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the world we share.

1n September 2015, the world’s leaders committed to 17 goals:
1.Poverty
2.Zero Hunger
3.Good Health and Wellbeing
4.Quality Education
5.Gender Equality
6.Clean Water and Sanitation
7.Affordable and Clean Energy
8.Decent Work and Economic Growth
9.Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10.Reduced Inequalities
11.Sustainable Cities and Communities
12.Responsible Consumption and Production
13.Climate Action
14.Life Below Water
15.Life on Land
16.Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions
17.Partnerships for the Goals

Together, they form the Sustainable Development Goals aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity. World Breastfeeding Week 2016 will enable the breastfeeding movement (and beyond) to connect with a variety of development issues over the next 15 years (2030) for maximum impact.

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