Breastfeeding friendly

Moses Lake community teams up to work together for moms and babies

MOSES LAKE — At 123 West Third Avenue in Moses Lake, a sticker on the storefront window reads "Breastfeeding welcomed here."

Towards the back, two cushioned chairs and a table make up the breastfeeding area at Baby, Naturally!, a space not confined by doors or walls, but a part of the store itself — a characteristic of the store that owner Adrienne Strickland hopes will encourage others in her community to be more attentive to the needs of breastfeeding moms.

"I made it a part of the store on purpose," said Strickland who first opened the store 16 months ago, something she wouldn't have done if it meant not being able to breastfeed her children at work and offering other mothers to come and do the same.

In the course of any given workday, it is not unusual for Strickland to be breastfeeding her 4-month-old daughter Iris while helping customers, some of whom come into her store seeking answers to questions they have about breastfeeding their own children.

"This store as it is doesn't exist in a lot of places; to bring it to Moses Lake is a shot in the dark," Strickland said of her store specializing in baby care products parents may have trouble finding at other retailers, such as breast pump equipment, nursing bras, homeopathic medicines and organic baby foods. "I was trying to bring more of that attached parenting to Moses Lake," she said while breastfeeding Iris and walking over to the register to help the next customer.

And Strickland isn't the only business owner in Moses Lake who has considered putting in a breastfeeding room.

Brad Bachman, manager at Blades Salon, recently cleared out an entire room in the downstairs of his salon, a project that was inspired after employee Jacque Jacobsen became pregnant; she is expecting in July.

The room, which is painted in warm colors and has a stereo, rocker and dim lighting for privacy, is a space Bachman hopes both employees and customers will use.

"Our employees do a lot for us so we want to give back to them," said Bachman. "Moms are here for maybe two or three hours at a time and some people can't get babysitters," he said.

As an employee, Jacobsen said it feels good to know her employer is understanding of her needs. It's nice to know "that it's okay to do that," Jacobsen said rubbing her tummy.

When envisioning a more breastfeeding friendly community, Bachman, Jacobsen and Strickland agree it is one where businesses and individuals work together to support new moms and their children.

"Everyone gets involved in putting these in their businesses," Bachman said of breastfeeding rooms and the importance he believes they play in making happier employees and healthier babies.

Being comfortable to breastfeed in the open rather than in bathroom stalls or in the corner of a restaurant, is something Strickland would like to see more of right here in Moses Lake. "They shouldn't have to feel like they have to breast pump at home, they should feel comfortable putting a baby to the breast when doing everyday activities," she said.

Building that sense of teamwork — not just between moms, but with businesses, friends and other family members is what Debe Nuss, coordinator with the Moses Lake Breasfeeding Coalition, said is one of the next steps in promoting a health conscientious community.

"Changing attitude is a big thing," Nuss said, adding that getting hospitals, child care centers and educators cooperating together will aid in doing that.

"The most important thing is for a switch which takes a generation of moms to change to the idea that breastfeeding is the norm, that's why we have breasts," said Strickland.