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2008 Breastfeeding Mother of the Year
Central Texas Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition is proud to honor Jennika Cook with their 2008 Breastfeeding Mother of the Year. Cook received the award at a special Mother’s Day HMHB event held at Applebee’s, La Frontera, on May 7. HMHB seeks to honor individuals who are an inspiration to others in their efforts to promote and support breastfeeding.
Cook was asked by an employee of The Disney Store in the Round Rock Premium Outlet Mall, to nurse her baby in the fitting room. Cook left the store and sat on a bench in the courtyard of the mall to nurse her baby and was asked by a mall employee not to nurse in the courtyard.
“I wanted to raise awareness of breastfeeding as normal and natural, and let them know that Austin Moms won’t allow us to be treated otherwise.” Cook said. Cook later received apologies from the parent companies that own both the Disney Store and the Premium Outlet Mall and was assured that they did welcome nursing mothers. Cook and several mother’s groups held a “nurse-in” in the mall to “test” the apologies and Cook said she felt it turned into a positive experience. HMHB recognized Cook’s efforts and thanked her for taking the opportunity to insure the rights of mothers and babies to enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding.
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