It's Breastfeeding Awareness Month in California and there are several nursing awareness events planned in the Sacramento region.Thousands of mother and babies are expected to participate in the Third Annual Breastfeeding Walk statewide Aug. 13, including one at the state Capitol and in Yolo County. (Left: About 100 people participated in the walk in 2007. Photo by The Bee's Ann Chadwick Williams).
The walk at the Capitol will be held from noon to 1 p.m on the south lawn. Four companies will honored with statewide Mother Baby Friendly Workplace Awards and six local employers also will receive awards from the Breastfeeding Coalition of Greater Sacramento.
In Yolo County, mothers, babies and healthcare providers will walk at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 near the county's health department, located on North Cottonwood Street in Woodland.
The walks are meant to highlight the need for breastfeeding mothers to have support at home, in the community and at work, a Yolo County news release states.
California law stipulates that mothers can breastfeed children in any location, public or private, and that every employer, including the state, is required to provide a reasonable amount of break time to accommodate employees needing to express breast milk for their infant.
For more on California law and breastfeeding, go to the California Department of Public Health's Web site.
For more about breastfeeding walk events and breastfeeding resources, go to the California Breastfeeding Coalition's Web site.
