Moms Talk: Is Breastfeeding Stigmatized?

Welcome to "Moms Talk," our weekly Wednesday feature about a parenting topic of local interest.

Each week we'll post a question by a mom about being a mom.

Join the conversation with your comments, questions and answers to keep the discussion rolling. Feel free to use links to point your neighbors toward businesses, services, events or volunteer organizations in our Rockville Patch directory or calendar.

We'll also have members of our Moms Council weigh in with questions and comments.

Now, on to this week's discussion ...

Locally and nationally, breastfeeding has made news in recent months.

A Rockville mom was at the center of a controversy at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC last month after she was stopped—without proper cause it turned out—while breastfeeding her child.

Breastfeeding has even become a political issue with Sarah Palin and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) jumping on first lady  Michelle Obama's efforts to promote the practice.

Last week, the Rockville-based Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States was named a breastfeeding-friendly company. The District of Columbia Breastfeeding Coalition and the Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition awarded the health management organization the honor in recognition of Kaiser's "supportive work environment provided to breastfeeding employees."

So, what of it Rockville moms? Does breastfeeding get a bad rap? Do you believe that breastfeeding is a healthy choice for a baby's development? Should it be more socially accepted? Should the government take measures to promote it?

Let us know in the comment box below.