Life-size cutouts of breastfeeding mothers showing up in Timmins, Ont.

A newproject innorthern Ontario is usinga unique approach to make breastfeeding in public more acceptable.

The local health unit in Timmins, Ont. has created life-size metal cutouts featuring local mothers breastfeedingtheir infants andplaced them all around the cityfor people to see.

"We want mothers to be fully aware of their right to breastfeed in public,"said Porcupine Health Unitnurse MeaganPotvin.

"That means being able to breastfeed anywhere, anytime, without being asked to cover up," she said.

Potvinsaid she hopes setting up the life-size images will be a bit of a shock and conversation starter in a community where breastfeeding in public can still be looked down on.

Only 60 per cent of new mothers breastfeed

Statistics show that women in northern Ontario are the least likely to want to breastfeed in the entire province. Only about 60 per cent of new moms in the regionend up doing it.

Potvin saidsome mothers who do start breastfeeding their newborns stop after just the first few weeks. She said it's in part because moms still don't feel comfortable doing so inpublic.

"There's a bit of misconceptionin the community, that when [women are]breastfeeding, we see it all. And that really is not the case for most mothers," she said.

The life-size cutouts all feature local mothers feeding their children aged 7 months to 2 years old. The plan is to set them up around local businesses, restaurants, and government buildings.

'I'm afraid to breastfeed in public'

Timmins mother Laurissa Crocettiposed for one of the cutouts while breastfeeding her ninth-month-old daughter Winter.

"It's going todefinitely open people's minds to breastfeeding and how normal it is," she said.

Crocetti said while it feels weird to see a picture of herself on display,she hopes it will makeher more comfortable too.

"There's sometimes where I'm afraid to breastfeed in public, because I'm afraid of what people will say. When I'm at the mall, I'll go into the breastfeeding room at Sears," she said.

"Why should we be ashamed to go into the bathroom or cover up if it's a natural thing to do?"

The health unit saidit hopes to take the giant cutouts on tour to other communities across the region.