Breastfeeding - Beyond What You See

"Showing, showing and sharing breastfeeding is necessary to remember that love is urgent, to bring to mind those who see that breastfeeding is natural and beyond that, it is vital to return health to society at all levels . Support it, respect it, find out." (Translation of photo below)

We came across a beautiful series of photos by Mexican photographer  Paola León , prominently displayed along the Paseo de la Reforma, one of the busiest avenues in the world. The photos depict women breastfeeding in different environments - homey and natural.

The exhibit is entitled Lactancia materna... Más allá de lo que ves". - "Breastfeeding, beyond what you see. "  It is sponsored by Mexico City's Secretaria de Salud - Secretary of Health. 

Only one in seven mothers in Mexico breastfeeds exclusively in the first six months. Mexico’s rate is among the lowest in Latin America. Mexico's childhood obesity rates are among the highest in the world.

​In 2015, the government joined other countries in following World Health Organization guidelines and banned free samples of baby formula to new mothers in hospitals.

The photo display is another attempt to encourage new mothers to see breastfeeding as a viable option.  The campaign takes an entirely different tone than an unsuccessful 2014 campaign that featured almost topless photos of female celebrities and the crass slogan "Don't turn your back on them. Give them the breast." 

Translation: "Breastfeeding women were portrayed in places that connected them with nature and in the daily life, to recognize that we are mammals, to rescue the woman -  return the value and importance to the act of breastfeeding freely, without prejudices, and on a protracted basis, if she so decides.' 

Here is a link to an article with more information about the exhibit and its sponsors.  It's in Spanish but you can always use Google Translate to translate the page. 

Here is a link to another article about the baby formula ban: ​http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/free-infant-formula-banned-in-hospitals/

Here is an article about childhood obesity in Mexico.  http://projects.aljazeera.com/2015/08/mexico-obesity/

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