MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
28 April 2009
Beauty in the Every Day — Images of Breastfeeding Required
Australian families are being encouraged to celebrate magic moments in breastfeeding
by submitting photographs to the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s (ABA) tenth
annual calendar.
Calendar project manager Barb Glare says, ‘With so much emphasis placed on issues
like sleepless nights and sore nipples, we don’t often see the beautiful moments
breastfeeding offers a mother and her new baby’.
‘The first time your baby looks up at you and gives you a milky smile; those special
night feeds when it’s just the two of you together; or those times when you’re out and
about and feel a huge sense of accomplishment when you calm an upset child with
‘mummy milk’. We want everyone to know that that’s what breastfeeding’s all
about.’
The breastfeeding calendar seeks to present breastfeeding as the normal way of
feeding a baby by promoting images of breastfeeding to the wider community. All
profits from sales of the calendar support the work of the Victorian Branch of the
‘Breastfeeding won’t be fully accepted as the normal way to feed babies and young
children until it is something that is seen and talked about, rather than being hidden
away’, says Ms. Glare.
Australia’s breastfeeding rates fall well below the World Health Organization (WHO)
recommendations. Around 90% of Australian mothers initiate breastfeeding in
hospital, but by 6 months, fewer than half of babies are still breastfeed.
The World Health Organization recommends that for optimal brain development
mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first 6 months (no other foods or
drinks are necessary) and gradually introduce solid foods from around 6 months.
WHO also recommends mothers continue breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond, for as
long as the mother and child desire.
Photo submissions showing babies of any age, stage and setting being breastfed can
be sent to calendars@breastfeeding.asn.au by 20 May 2009. Low-resolution jpegs
please.
Media Enquiries:
Contact Barb Glare on 03-5565 8602 & 0419377803 or
calendars@breastfeeding.asn.au.
NEWS 
