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The Cambridge Evening News May 15th 2007 -- The Cambridge Evening News interviews me regarding the governments plans to create laws around breastfeeding. Boobs are designed for natural feeding THE National Breast-feeding Awareness Week is under way and health minister Caroline Flint is among those trying to spread the word that "breast is best". Ministers are looking at new legislation which would allow women to feed their children in public without fear of being accused of indecency and also allow them to take breaks at work to breast-feed. But the move has surprised mums in Cambridgeshire who want to know why they need permission to give their children their milk. Shazzie, from Impington, is still feeding her daughter Evie at two-and-a-half and said she had never had a problem giving her milk in public. She said: "To have a law which allows people to do something that is natural is absurd. "Why would anyone want to stop a woman breast-feeding? It's insane that anybody would have a problem with someone giving a baby the food they are meant to have. "Nobody looks at a bottle fed child and says 'that's immoral'. If somebody gets their boobs out, which were designed to feed a child, people get all peculiar because they have a weird perception about them." Shazzie said no-one had ever challenged her while feeding Evie and that she worked for herself, so she could feed her at any time. She said: "The only comment I have had was positive. Evie had fallen in the supermarket and I sat on the floor and got my boobs out because that was what she needed. I have put myself in a really lucky position because I work for myself and have my child with me all the time." Mother-of-three Sharon Budworth from Hemmingford Grey is a doula, which is someone giving emotional and practical support to new mothers. She said: "Anything that is going to help mothers breast- feed for longer is a benefit for them and their baby. "I breast-fed in public, in very public places with a shawl draped over me. I've never had a problem. I know there are stories in the newspapers about people being asked to leave restaurants, but I've never known anyone that has happened to. There are always going to be the odd one or two people who don't like it, but I think people are tolerant. "You've got to put yourself in other people's shoes. Women should be able to feed their babies, but they need to be sensible about it." Research shows only 21 per cent of mothers breast-feed their children for six months, which is recommended by the World Health Organisation. More than 180 politicians have signed a breast-feeding manifesto, which says returning to work is the most common reason for women stopping breast-feeding. It says: "We call on the Government to legislate for breast-feeding breaks for women at work, in line with other European countries." France and Italy allow new mums breaks at work for breast-feeding. Please note that all pictures and text are copyright CEN and/or Shazzie.

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