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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- That is the message of a new state law that protects a woman's right to breast-feed her baby in public. Now state health officials and breast-feeding advocates are distributing 40,000 laminated cards saying that for breast-feeding mothers to carry with them.

It is all part of a public education campaign by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and La Leche League.

''The law is really no good unless moms know about it,'' said Brenda Bandy, professional liaison for La Leche League of Kansas. ''These cards are handy, they're durable, and they might just be the little bit of added confidence some moms need.''

Modeled after other states with similar laws, the cards have printed in large letters on the front the essence of the law passed by the Legislature this year: ''A mother may breast-feed in any place she has a right to be.''

On the back of the card are numbers to call for information on the law or for breast-feeding help. For breast-feeding women asked to leave a public place, there's a number listed on the card for her to call to report it. State health officials will then send a letter to those businesses explaining the new law.

The cards also urge women to report businesses friendly to breast-feeding moms so those establishments can receive a letter thanking them.

Breast-feeding advocates say women's personal experiences and statistics point to the need for a widespread information campaign.

About 72.2 percent of new mothers leave Kansas hospitals breast-feeding their babies, a number higher than the national average of 70.1 percent.

But those rates plummet after six months, when just 28.8 percent of Kansas moms are still breast-feeding -- compared with 33.2 percent of their counterparts nationwide.

''Clearly that shows that our hospitals and doctors are doing a good job, but something happens when a woman goes back to the community,'' said Linda Kinney, director of KDHE's bureau for children, youth and families.

''She's just not getting the support and encouragement she needs.''

Many new mothers stop breast-feeding because they fear nursing in public, Bandy said.

''I've had mothers say they feel like they can't go anywhere,'' she said. ''They stay home, because they don't want to risk upsetting someone.''

The cards will be distributed through hospitals, health departments and La Leche League chapters.