Straphangers Assert Public Right To Breastfeed
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Mothers took to the subway to bring awareness about breastfeeding in public Friday.
Organizers of the fifth annual Breastfeeding Subway Caravan wanted people to understand the right for mothers to be able to feed their children wherever they need to.
"That's my baby's food. So my baby has got to eat whenever he needs it," said one breastfeeding mother. "I don't have to deny my baby because of what people say or will be looking at. I don't have to."
"What we need to do is support mommies to be able to feed their babies, on demand, any time their babies need to eat," said Manhattan State Senator Liz Krueger. "It is a win-win for the children, the mothers and for us as a society."
Organizers said this year's caravan is a reason to celebrate, because of the passage of the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights, authored by State Senator Liz Krueger.
The bill, which is expected to be signed into law next week, promotes the healthy aspects of breast milk and requires new moms be informed of breastfeeding options before and after delivery.
It also bans formula providers from pressuring mothers to bottle feed while they're still at the hospital.