Breastfeeding Situations That Are Rarely Seen, But Commonly Practiced

Online, April 3, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Mommy Feeds Baby is a wonderful new children's book that normalizes breastfeeding. In this formula-fed society, bookstores and libraries are inundated with books that depict bottle-feeding as the norm. It is high time for the unveiling of a book that portrays the natural, organic and nutritional food moms provide through breastmilk; and the bonding that is created through breastfeeding.

The obvious lack of breastfeeding educational material for children prompted the production of Mommy Feeds Baby. This book fills a void that has been lingering in homes and hospitals where breastfeeding is the preferred feeding choice. Moms and children love the message and delivery of this unique, pioneering book that depicts breastfeeding as unique and individual as it is. The breastfed children and families displayed in Mommy Feeds Baby vary in age and ethnicity. Illustrations display infants to toddlers, dyads to tandem, families and siblings-all involved in the celebration of breastfeeding.

This hardback book contains remarkable illustrations that have been digitally enhanced and animated in order to captivate young audiences. The repetitious, easy-to-read phrase, confirms what many individuals wish to convey, and has children chanting, "Mommy feeds Baby."

A book on such a personal topic would not be complete without a page reserved for the reader's own photograph. The last page in the book has been dedicated for moms to document their own breastfeeding experience. This space allows moms to incorporate themselves into the story by recording their favorite breastfeeding memory and inserting a personal photograph. It is important to remember the early years, and Mommy Feeds Baby provides a perfect outlet to commemorate the precious memories of bonding and breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding has become a public health issue. The Surgeon General, Mrs. Obama, the AAP and WHO have all come out with dogmatic statements embracing breastfeeding and calling for an increase in breastfeeding rates as a way to reduce childhood obesity, asthma, otitis media, and a variety of other health concerns. Mommy Feeds Baby is endorsed by doulas, nurses, midwives, physicians, librarians and moms. It should be in every child's library as well as in every public library around the country. This book is designed to help swing the infant feeding pendulum in the direction of breastfeeding by reaching children and their parents. Educating a child is easier than changing an adult's mind years later.

About the author: Christy Jo Hendricks, IBCLC, Doula, has experience as an elementary teacher, secondary English teacher, school administrator and Public Health educator. She has a passion for both education and public health. Her two interests merged when she accepted a job for the Department of Public Health and developed curriculums for the WIC program. She has worked with children and families for over twenty years and enjoys speaking on the topics of lactation and early education. She has developed and implemented a lactation course that has been instrumental in training the next generation of IBCLC's. She wrote and illustrated Mommy Feeds Baby as part of her goal of normalizing breastfeeding in today's society.

Mommy Feeds Baby has received endorsements from William Sears, MD; Martha Sears, RN; Laurie Haessly, MA, RD, IBCLC, Public Health Program Director; Joanna Whitlow, doula and childbirth educator; Kari Spoelstra, RN, BSN, IBCLC; Touraj Shafai, MD, Ph.D, FAAP; Nancy R. Wood, BS, MLIS, Early Childhood and Outreach Librarian; Christina Smillie, MD.
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