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| Bookstore promotes a natural way By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 2:35 PM PDT Ink Spell Books in Half Moon Bay will step out of the traditional bookstore role Saturday by becoming a part of a national event aimed at spotlighting breastfeeding as a healthy beginning for newborn babies. Organizers hope that at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning, Oct. 11, mothers will pick up their infants and take part in “Breastfeeding Challenge 2008.” The challenge, which will take place at 11 a.m. local time around the country, is to set a record for the most children breastfeeding simultaneously. The effort is through the Quintessence Foundation, a British Columbia nonprofit that focuses on breastfeeding education for health professionals and the public. The Breastfeeding Challenge is one of several community events undertaken by the foundation for the purpose of educating and supporting new mothers and young families. Other projects include a British Columbia women’s milk bank, a baby-friendly network, conferences and educational events. Organizing the local event are Sara Russell and Chris Pritchard, Coastside doulas, or women who give nonmedical assistance to mothers during childbirth and in the postpartum stages. Pritchard, though, is also a nurse. The Challenge is to “increase awareness of breastfeeding,” said Pritchard. “We try to promote breastfeeding as the healthiest and best option for babies.” The two doulas selected Ink Spell as the site of the simultaneous breastfeeding by multiple mothers for a couple of reasons: The store building is large and comfortable, and not an unlikely setting for the informal, family bonding characteristic of breastfeeding. “We’re very child-friendly,” said bookstore owner Cindi Whittemore. “This is nothing new for us.” She went on to add that the event will focus on breastfeeding as a natural part of life for baby and mother, and that the event will shun sensationalism. “This is a celebration of family and breastfeeding as one of those things people feel should be done around here,” she said. “We have people come in here and breastfeed all the time. “Sure, there may be some people uncomfortable with it, but it’s a part of life. “I’m not comfortable with people running around naked, but this is different. This is somebody feeding their child.” She noted that while she herself did not breastfeed her child, she “can see how other people would” make that choice. Breastfeeding as an option is gaining popularity among women, said Pritchard. “More and more women are feeling social pressure to breastfeed,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are social mores around it that haven’t caught up. People are feeling shy about it.” She added that women may feel more comfortable about breastfeeding when given positive examples. “Ninety-nine percent of women can breastfeed successfully if they have an opportunity to observe women breastfeeding and learn from that,” she said. Ink Spell is located at 500 Purissima St. in Half Moon Bay. It can be reached at 726-6571. |