PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The city of Portland has kicked off a new campaign hoping to raise more awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Mayor Michael Brennan teamed up with area mothers in a press conference Wednesday to explain why the city is so supporting of public nursing, and they're hoping to make more businesses mother-friendly.
According to the surgeon general, there are a number of health benefits to breast feeding including a lower risk for infection, asthma, even obesity - so Mayor Brennan says it just makes sense to encourage this healthy behavior.
The main goal of the campaign is to help the community become comfortable with mothers nursing in public; but it's also a way to teach their area businesses how to help the public understand that it's not only okay, it's the law. In 2009, the state legislature gave women the right to nurse in public places.
Right now, participating businesses have a sticker in their window saying, "we welcome nursing mothers," but the city is hoping to get more businesses on-board.
For more information on the campaign, click here.
NEWS CENTER