Image: Rebecca Wanosik via Facebook.
Facebook is at it again – policing (and even suspending) a person’s account because of breastfeeding shown in photographs.
We’ve written about both topics previously on Moms Pump Here. Last year during one of our ad campaigns, we were not “allowed” to have a marketing campaign that showed a woman’s breast actually FEEDING AN INFANT. Can you believe that? We were angry and frustrated, but FB contended this was their policy about sponsored posts.
We’ve also written about the mother of six, Rebecca Wanosik of Missouri, who recently breastfed another woman’s baby because the infant’s mother was in surgery and the baby would not take a bottle. Shared via Facebook, Ms. Wanosik wrote, “When the baby arrived you could tell she was hungry and exhausted and just needed some milk. I did what I hope any person would do for my child in a time of despair. I fed a stranger’s baby.”
Milk sharing and wet nursing is not new but we as a society need to move forward to normalize breastfeeding.
Shortly after the post was made on Facebook, people began sharing the post and the picture associated with it. Then Ms. Wanosik’s husband Anthony posted that Facebook had deactivated her account (which has now been re-instated), but FB is continuing to investigate.
Critics of the photo commented that diseases and/or drugs can be passed through breastmilk and that the milk sharing should have occurred through an approved milk bank.
However, Ms. Wanosik defends her actions, “I did NOT just pick up a baby on the side of the road that looked hungry. I had permission from the other child’s mother to post the photos…The other mother and I have a mutual friend who knew about me to KNOW I could safely feed her baby. She would not have consented otherwise.”
We at Moms Pump Here applaud you, Ms. Wanosik – and we applaud the infant’s mom who knew the wonderful benefit her baby would receive from your generosity. We thank you both for helping us to normalize breastfeeding. We look forward to FB's response to the "investigation."
