This bill deletes the age limitation in the statute that permits mothers to publicly breastfeed their children who are age 12 months or younger. ”

Here is a link to the actual bill: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/SB0083.pdf

Sen Faulk is the sole sponsor of this important legislation. Unless they find a sponsor in the House this bill will not be heard this year. Please contact your local House Rep and ask them to sign on as a sponsor, and at the very least support the bill when it comes before them. All bills have to be filed by next Thursday, the 17th, so we have a lot of work to do!

You can find your State House and Senate Reps here : http://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/, or by going here http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/ and entering your street address.

Also, Sen. Faulk’s assistant said that they have gotten a lot of calls on this legislation and that the feedback is only slightly in favor of breastfeeding. That means that more people need to call his office and express their support. Please call Sen. Faulk’s office at (615) 741-2061 and tell them that you support SB0083.

Please share this with anyone who might help!!

From Megan Morton, Co-Leader of Nashville Birth Network

Thanks to the hard work of a few individuals and organizations, a State Bill, introduced by State Senator Mike Faulk, is set to eliminate the age restriction on the current breastfeeding bill (currently at 12 months). Here, an article by The Tennessean about the bill in general and a video clip about the benefits of breastfeeding.

What you can do: until the bill goes up before the health committee (probably later this February or March), contact your local state legislator and ask them to support SB0083. After the bill goes before the health committee members, we then need to contact those members directly. Stay tuned.

POST EDIT 2/9/2011: This bill needs positive support ASAP. Contact Senator Faulk’s office at (615) 741-2061 and tell him you support SBSB0083.

This year as part of MANA’s (Midwives Alliance of North America) conference Ricki Lake is coming to host a fundraiser! What could be more fun than a roast of the farm midwives? Come join yours truly, tons of birth professionals and active citizens at the Cool Springs Marriott on October 15, 7-9 pm. Tickets are only $20 in advance!

For tickets, visit here.

This event is a fundraiser for the Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery, the country’s only grant-making nonprofit organization dedicated to midwifery causes.

Voice of America has a new article by Mike Osborne, featuring two of our local midwives: Mary Anne Richardson, a CPM (the article incorrectly states), and Mavis Schorn, a Nurse Midwife (the article states she is a doctor, she is not). The article, “Welcome Home, Baby“doesn’t completely explore the differences between nurse midwives and certified professional midwives, but does show that many women are choosing midwives, for hospital and out of hospital births. Both Schorn and Richardson are in the Middle Tennessee area, and both lovingly serve local women.

Join other mothers Sunday, May 16, from 3-5 pm to relax and be pampered. Join the Nashville Birth Network for a FREE pamper party including light refreshments, prenatal massages, henna tattoos and pampering from an aesthetician. This event will be held at 2817 West End Ave, Suite 205, Nashville.

Want more information about Nashville Birth Network, a local growing chapter of Birth Network National? “The Nashville Birth Network is an alliance of individuals and organizations in Middle Tennessee with concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Our mission is to promote an evidence-based, wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs.”