Breastfeeding is back and lactating mothers have the legislation to back it. The CDC reports that 70 percent of mothers were breastfeeding in 2003 and the National Conference of State Legislatures says 31 states currently protect a mother's right to breastfeed in any public or private location.

Breastfeeding activists (lactivists, if you will) led by the strong-willed women of La Leche League, have even succeeded in securing legislation in 15 states that exempts breast-feeding from public indecency laws. “We have been pleasantly surprised to see how much support there is for legislation to protect breast-feeding,” said Mary Lofton, a spokeswoman for La Leche League International. “Occasionally, there may be one person voting on it who is opposed to it or maybe a person who is not exactly opposed to it but thinks there should be qualifications.”

Breastfeeding is becoming more accepted throughout the country, but a lactivist's work is never done. About 150 breastfeeding women gathered outside ABC's studio in June to protest anti-breastfeeding comments made by the hosts of “The View” and protesters also met outside a South Carolina Victoria's Secret that had prevented a woman from breastfeeding her child. They held signs that announced: “Victoria’s Secret Supports Breasts but Not Breast-feeding Mothers.”

[via ABC News]

(Photo: SShosp.org)