Dr. Jack Newman, the Toronto doctor known around the world as a leader in breastfeeding education and support, needs your help. The Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and Institute sees more than 2500 mothers and babies each year, but is on the verge of closing its doors unless it receives more funding. The NBCI is requesting donations, but until the government recognizes the importance of institutional breastfeeding support, the clinic will always be in danger.

Supporters of the NBCI are asked to come to Queen’s Park on Wednesday, December 3rd at 10 am for a quiet nurse-in. Demonstrators will be advocating for the provincial government to recognize the importance of breastfeeding and to commit to funding breastfeeding clinics like Dr. Newman’s. The rally is supported by the New Democratic Party, and NDP health critic France Gélinas will be holding a press conference at 10 am. At 10.30 am, question period will take place in parliament, and Gélinas will use the opportunity to call for a provincial breastfeeding strategy and encourage the government to support hospitals going baby friendly.

The objective is to hold a nurse-in in the viewing gallery of Queen’s Park during question period. IMPORTANT: formal protests are not allowed within the building, so it is asked that no one bring signs, placards or banners. The hope is to fill the viewing gallery which will require a huge turn out, so please spread the word. This is an opportunity to change the status of breastfeeding policy in Ontario for years to come.

If you wish to attend please RSVP to Helen or Dani by December 1st. Spaces in the viewing gallery are limited and the NDP are asking anyone wishing to participate to add their names to the list of guests as they will have to go to the security desk to give their names in order to get in.

What: Breastfeeding Rally and Nurse-in

Where: Queen’s Park, Toronto

When: 10 am, Wed. December 3rd

RSVP to:

dani at naturalmothering dot ca

helen at naturalmothering dot ca

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

And she (Sarah) said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck?
—Genesis XXI, 7

But Hannah did not go up; for she said unto her husband, So soon as the child shall be weaned, then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and abide there for ever. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth good in thy eyes; tarry until though has weaned him; only may the Lord fulfill his word.
So the woman remained behind, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
—Samuel I, I, 22-23

From the God of thy father, who will help thee; and from the Almighty, who will bless thee, with blessings of heaven above, with blessings of the breasts, and of the womb;
—Genesis. XLIX, 25-26

Like a shepherd will he feed his flock: with his arm will he gather the lambs, and in his bosom will he carry them, will he lead gently those that suckle their young.
—Isaiah XL, 11-12

Yet Zion said, The Eternal hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, not to have mercy on the son of her body? yea, should these even forget, yet would I not forget thee.
—Isaiah LI, 14-16

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be delighted over her, all ye that love her; be highly glad with her, all ye that mourn for her. In order that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breast of her consolations; in order that ye may sip and find pleasure from the abundance of her glory. For thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will extend to her peace like a river, and like a rapid stream the glory of nations, that ye may suck; upon the arm shall ye be borne, and upon knees shall ye be dandled.
—Isaiah LXVI, 10-13

Instead that thou wast forsaken and hated, without one to pass through (thee), will I render thee an excellency of everlasting, a joy of all generations. And though shalt suck the milk of nations, and the breast of kings shalt thou suck:
—Isaiah LX, 15-16

Now when she had weaned Lo-ruchamah, she conceived, and bore a son.
—Hosea I, 8

Give them, O Lord, what thou wilt give! give them a miscarrying womb and dried-up breasts.
—Hosea IX, 14-15

Yea, thou art he that took me from the womb; thou hast been my trust when I hung on my mother’s breasts.
—Psalm XXII, 10-11

Surely I have pacified and stilled my soul, like the suckling on its mother’s breast; like a suckling is in me my soul.
—Psalm CXXXI, 2-3

Oh that some one would make thee as my brother that hath sucked my mother’s breasts!
—The Song of Solomon VIII, 1

Shall women, then, eat their own fruit, the babes they have tenderly nursed?
—Lamentations II, 20

Even wild beasts offer the breast, they give suck to their young ones; the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. The tongue of the suckling cleaveth to its palate by reason of thirst: babes ask for bread, there is not one to break it for them.
—Lamentations IV, 3

And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her lap, and she became a nurse unto it.
—Ruth IV, 16

And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!”
—Luke XI, 27

Compiled by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

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This handout may be copied and distributed without further permission, on the condition that it is not used in any context in which the WHO code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes is violated.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3