What visuals should I use for my speech?

[MichiganGirl]

I'm doing a speech on breastfeeding: The reasons to do it both for the mother and baby, and why more women don't breastfeed. We have to have at least 2 visuals for the speech. any ideas for me?

Thanks!

Anisah

[Just Jocko]

What's the speech for and who is your audience? That makes a big difference in what kind of visual aids to use. For instance, if it's a group of pregnant women, you could probably show a BF photo that shows quite a bit of the woman's breast. If, however, it's for a college class, you'd only want to use a photo that shows almost no breast.

If you're using statistics in your speech, then at least one graphic of those statistics would be good. And at least one photo of a BF mom.

[Silas Sparkhammer]

You wanna know what's funny? Solely based on the title of the thread -- "What visuals should I use for my speech?" -- I was gonna say, "I recommend against pictures of topless women."

Then I saw the topic of the speech!

Some years ago, an independent film producer came to visit the on-campus science fiction club at San Diego State University. He had a slide-show about his latest film. And, to spice things up, every 20th picture or so was of a topless woman. Big oops: he'd misjudged his audience. We had minors, to begin with, but, also, we were a little too conservative, overall, for that appeal. He was terribly shame-faced, and had to click hurriedly past the salacious pics.

So -- I recommend against salacious pictures of topless women!

Silas

[PallasAthena]

What kind of visuals are you looking for? Pictures or stuff more interesting than that? There are a couple of great breastfeeding vids on utube set to some beautiful music and showing babies and children of all ages nursing. That might make a lovely intro.

There are some images of posters showing little girls pretending to breastfeed their dolls (used in a new zealand advocacy campaign I think). Let me know if you want help digging any of those up. I could probably find them pretty quickly.

If you want a real person, you could contact your local La Leche League and see if there are any mothers willing to come nurse their babies live. Heck, if I live in Michigan, I'd totally volunteer to nurse my toddler for your speech. I'm totally willing to help you find the contact info for a local la leche league group, though, if you aren't familiar with one in your area.

Let me know if you want help digging any of this up. I could probably find them pretty quickly.

It sounds like a totally cool project!

[CenTex]

My wife works for a company that makes all kind of that sort of stuff! Google child birth graphics and you should find her company. The stuff is a bit expensive, so you may want to peruse the website, and then find a breastfeeding educator, perhaps at a local hospital and see if you can borrow what you need.

[MichiganGirl]

I was thinking about a picture of a mom nursing, you really can't see anything! It's for my speach class, so no nothing salacious, Silas.

Anyone have any pictures of themselves nursing to volunteer? I can block out your face.

MG

[purpleiguana]

You need not block out my face.

[PallasAthena]

Originally Posted by MichiganGirl

I was thinking about a picture of a mom nursing, you really can't see anything! It's for my speach class, so no nothing salacious, Silas.

Anyone have any pictures of themselves nursing to volunteer? I can block out your face.

MG

I have a really good one of Gabi and I nursing on the Pacific coast hwy by that really famous bridge. You can't see anything, but she's not exactly a little baby in the pic.

[MichiganGirl]

Thanks PI!

Originally Posted by PallasAthena

I have a really good one of Gabi and I nursing on the Pacific coast hwy by that really famous bridge. You can't see anything, but she's not exactly a little baby in the pic.

Could I use that one too please? That looks cool.

Anisah

[Beejtronic]

Originally Posted by purpleiguana

[pic]

OMG, that's adorable.

[zerocool]

It depends on the nature of the speech and the audience.

If it is a college audience, and if your speech is about perceptions of breast feeding, and acceptance of openly breastfeeding in society, put up a picture of someone breastfeeding, and the more of the breast that can be seen the better. Challenge the audience on any reaction they may have - ask them why a picture depicting a breast doing its primary function invokes this reaction. A college audience is one that should be challenged this way. You aren't going for shock value, but you are trying to provoke a response and then some critical thinking about that response. But know your audience.

If your speech is about the benefits of breastfeeding or the mechanics of breastfeeding, I don't think you gain more by showing more breast, so I would go with some of the other suggestions given.

[purpleiguana]

Originally Posted by Beejtronic

OMG, that's adorable.

Why thank you! It also happens to be the 3rd time I've posted it at snopes.

[PallasAthena]

I love this shot.

[bthyb]

Originally Posted by PallasAthena

I love this shot.

Me too! The whole thing is gorgeous.

[Pinecone]

Both of those photos are great!

[MichiganGirl]

Great shot PA! I'm not sure exactly what I am going to use, but can I use yours if I need to?

Zerocool, very good suggestions! My talk is mostly on the benefits, for mother and baby, including medical benefits for both, and barriers to breastfeeding for more women. If I had more time before my speech, I might do more of what you said. Another speech perhaps.

MG

[purpleiguana]

PA, that is a wonderful picture!

[PallasAthena]

Thanks! It was one of those I-can't-believe-we-live-HERE! moments. I get those periodically.

MG- you sure can use that in your speech. I think showing someone nursing a toddler might be a good thing because the benefits of nursing continue for as long as you continue to nurse. There's no magical age where nursing ceases to be beneficial. She will continue getting my antibodies for as long as she nurses. If fact, you can even use human milk like saline nasal spray! She's got a cold, and I've been rinsing her nose and eyes out with milk (hows that for a visual! ) and it's really been helping her. Then there's the whole comfort thing. I love it.

[purpleiguana]

Originally Posted by PallasAthena

Thanks! It was one of those I-can't-believe-we-live-HERE! moments. I get those periodically.

No kidding! SoCal is gorgeous. When you guys get a chance (if you haven't already) drive up to Santa Barbara. Pier, beach, State Street. Great way to spend a day.

[PallasAthena]

Originally Posted by purpleiguana

No kidding! SoCal is gorgeous. When you guys get a chance (if you haven't already) drive up to Santa Barbara. Pier, beach, State Street. Great way to spend a day.

We do that about every other week! We'll surf on Saturday, then on Sunday bum around Santa Barbara. It's great. My favorite place in Santa Barbara, though, is a beach called Hendrey's (that's what everyone calls it anyway) at low tide. Great rocks for tide-pooling. We went a couple of weeks ago at high tide and ate lunch and watched dolphins frolicking among the surfers.

We are the luckiest people in the world. Coastal California is like paradise.