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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 5h

There's a place for partners at ante-natal breastfeeding education sessions or when getting one-to-one support, but group breastfeeding support meetings are not a place for men.
@filiacharity.bsky.social

Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 5h

Whether it's for cultural or religious reasons, because they have been subjected to men's violence or 'just' because they don't want to expose their breasts in front of men while getting the hang of breastfeeding, women need single-sex groups and spaces for breastfeeding support.

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 5h

I'm quoted in The Times today after our panel session at #FiLiA2025. My brother's response when I shared in a family whatsapp group was "I would imagine that you said a bit more than that". Yes I did, considerably more. When men are in the room, there are significant numbers of women who won't be.

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 6d

Sorry, I forgot that one!!

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 6d

I'm here! 🤩
#FiLiA2025
#Sisterhood #Solidarity
@filiacharity.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

FiLiA @filiacharity.bsky.social · 9d

Today on #InternationalDayofNoProstitution, as part of the #FiLiA Women First project, we have FIVE recommendations for change and we are engaging with local and national government to help make them a reality.

Real Solutions to Prostitution #IDNP

Read more here: filia.org.uk/women-first

Real Solutions to Prostitution — FiLiA

We are a coalition between survivors of the sex trade and professionals working in the VAWG sector.

filia.org.uk

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 10d

Having Marian's support means a huge amount to us. She is a phenomenal woman. You can see Helen Joyce's interview with her here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU-v...

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · 10d

We feel honoured to have the support of the inspirational Marian Tompson and were delighted that she was more than happy to give us a quote for our website. Thank you, Marian, for all that you have done for breastfeeding mothers and babies everywhere.

Photo of Marian Tompson with the quote: "Thank you, MoMa Breastfeeding, for standing up for the importance and unique advantages of mother-to-mother help for breastfeeding. As the founder of La Leche League, I joyfully and gratefully send you my good wishes and thanks for taking on a commitment that has such vitally important consequences."

Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 12d

It's National Poetry Day. This is one that really spoke to me when I first read it in Musings on Mothering 13 years ago. It still does, and my babies are now fabulous young women.

Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · 14d

One of our MoMa Breastfeeding Counsellors spotted this bronze ‒ Charity by Paul Dubois from around 1870 ‒ at Harris library in Preston. Beautiful!
#breastfeedingart

Bronze statue of a mother holding two young children and breastfeeding one of them.

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 15d

Can't wait! 💜🤍💚

FiLiA @filiacharity.bsky.social · 15d

Some of our volunteers just spent a wonderful few days in #Brighton, flyering local people & businesses about #FiLiA2025

It was a great reception & everyone was very pleased to hear so many Women are coming to town for THREE DAYS of #feminism

Join us: filia.org.uk/tickets

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · 18d

I'm honoured to be taking part in this panel session at #FiLiA2025 next month. And @momabfing.bsky.social has a stall there too - please do come and say hello!

FiLiA @filiacharity.bsky.social · 18d

💥 #FiLiA2025 session news 💥

MATERNITY AND BREASTFEEDING: Advocating together for Women’s #maternity and #breastfeeding needs, grounded in physiology, language, culture and sex-based rights @momabfing.bsky.social @annamelamed.bsky.social

🎟️ filia.org.uk/tickets

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · Aug 27

Just finished reading Milli Hill's Ultra-Processed Women. Everyone should read this book; it is such an eye opener. It's quite scary, but also full of sensible practical things that feel achievable and that will make a genuine difference.

Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Aug 24

This week MoMa mourns the death of Dr Michel Odent. He was a champion for mothers & giving birth “back to women”. His advocacy reminded us that birth is a physiological, deeply instinctive process, with a natural integrity which should be protected from unnecessary intervention.

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · Aug 15

Sometimes there are pieces that it is a huge privilege to proofread. This was one of those.

FiLiA @filiacharity.bsky.social · Aug 15

4 years #Afghanistan

Brave young Woman writes for #FiLiA

'And if you are reading this, you have heard it.

That means I am still alive. That means we are still here.

#FutureArchitect of freedom Basira Rahmati, still standing, still speaking.'

www.filia.org.uk/latest-news/...

Stabbing Or Shooting Someone Is Not the Only Way to Kill Them — FiLiA

But then, everything stopped. Two years into my studies, the Taliban returned to power. With a few cruel words, they closed the doors of every university to women. My faculty, once a symbol of hope a...

www.filia.org.uk

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Aug 10

We're adding content to our website ‒ including videos. Here's our first one and you can find more breastfeeding tips on our website. 👇

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Aug 4

It's World Breastfeeding Week. www.who.int/campaigns/wo...

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Ruth Lewis @ruthlewis.bsky.social · Aug 4

Language matters and in some situations it can cause serious harm when it is used inaccurately. Please sign and share.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Petition: Require the use of sexed language in government-funded health communications

Require the terms woman, girl and mother be used in their sexed meanings of adult female person, female child and female parent in government-funded healthcare groups and communications including poli...

petition.parliament.uk

Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Jul 24

We founded MoMa Breastfeeding on our core values that have also been forgotten elsewhere, including centring the mother-baby dyad. Mother-to-mother support in a welcoming single-sex space is vital for many mothers when accessing breastfeeding support.
open.substack.com/pub/janhavin...

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Jul 16

“Breastfeeding women really benefit from peer support, and I was delighted to see the new women-only, mother-led service [...] MoMa Breastfeeding, which offers volunteer-led, free breastfeeding support exclusively to women, after existing groups denied women single-sex support.”

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Jul 14

It's a couple of weeks ago that one of MoMa's co-founders and directors, @ruthlewis.bsky.social, talked to Kelly Oliver Dougal about breastfeeding, setting up MoMa and what led up to doing that. Do go and have a listen to their conversation!
youtu.be/sADECWeoJWA?...

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Jul 2

Tune in at 8 o'clock BST this evening to hear @ruthlewis.bsky.social, one of the MoMa Breastfeeding co-founders, talking to Kelly Oliver Dougal @KODPOW. youtu.be/sADECWeoJWA?...

MoMa - no men allowed into new breastfeeding support organisation for mothers and babies.

YouTube video by Kelly Oliver Dougall

youtu.be

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

Reem Alsalem @unsrvaw.bsky.social · Jun 26

Misrepresentative of my position in the report. Im not against the use of gender and use it all the time. I am alarmed by the exclusion of sex based considerations in analysing the experiences of women and girls - a concern backed by international law.

Global Justice Center @globaljusticec.bsky.social · Jun 25

NEW: We signed on to a statement opposing efforts by the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women to exclude gender in her work.

We can't disregard how sex and gender intersect in the lived realities of those facing violence.

Full statement: www.globaljusticecenter.net/oral-stateme...

Oral Statement: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls

Violence against women and girls is pervasive, evolving, and requires an all-tools approach by the Council if it is to be ended. Excluding a gender analysis from efforts to addressing violence against...

www.globaljusticecenter.net

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Jun 23

We love this breastfeeding street art in Palermo, Sicily. 🤱

Street art of a family with a picnic in an agricultural setting. The mother is breastfeeding her baby, while the father looks on playing a mandolin.

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

FiLiA @filiacharity.bsky.social · Jun 19

‘Violent porn showing choking and strangulation will be made illegal through the #Crime and #Policing Bill.’

We support the Government acting against the normalisation of strangulation. If it is illegal in real life, it should be illegal online.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...

Violent pornography showing strangulation to be banned

Violent porn showing choking and strangulation will be made illegal through the Crime and Policing Bill, the government has announced

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Ruth Lewis

MoMaBreastfeeding @momabfing.bsky.social · Jun 19

We're in for a hot spell! For exclusively breastfeeding babies, their mummy's milk is all they need.

Photo of an older baby sucking on a frozen breastmilk lolly. The text says: Exclusively breastfed babies do not need water or anything other than breastmilk. In hot weather, many mothers find that their baby might want to breastfeed or swap sides more often.
Older babies and toddlers might like to slurp on or play with a frozen breastmilk lolly or cubes!

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