The other day a very good friend of mine was asked to nurse her baby in the locker room or restroom at a local indoor park at a nearby community rec center. I've been to a "play group" at this rec center. I was going to try to go the center on the day that this occurred, I even switched from my normal day off. But I decided to sleep in and was dealing with cranky kids so we skipped it. I'm upset with myself because I didn't go and would have been there to support Liz when they did this to her.
Apparently the Rec Centers take on the issue was that they asked her to be more discreet. I've been around her when she has nursed. No one could be more discreet, short of nursing under a tent, than her. Not that that should matter anyway because Iowa Law on her side. Funny thing is they did this to the wrong person, she's a breast feeding peer counselor so she knows her rights.
I can't help but wonder if they would have done this to one of the many girls that Liz supports. Those who may be on the fence about breast feeding. Would it be the stimulus to cause them to give up and stop. Breastfeeding can be really hard work initially. I had a really hard time nursing Trevor in the early days. Nursing moms need support, pats on the back, hell even high fives, or at least a thumbs up as I've done on occasion. Not sneers or being treated like you are running around in the nude. I would have given my right arm to still be nursing Jayden and to be at the nurse in that was staged today. Alas, I'm no longer nursing and I was unable to attend because one of my employees was giving birth today.
Our country is far behind the world views of breast feeding. Most of the rest of the world have no social taboos when it comes to public breastfeeding. I feel that our country has come a long way but apparently we still have a long way to go.
Please please please do something for me. Go to the kwwl website. On their home page there is a poll about public breast feeding. Show your support. And here is the story that aired about the nurse in that was held today.
To my bloggy friends, please help me spread the word and link me up on your blogs if you are inclined to do so. Let me know in the comments if you do. I'd love to read it.
To Liz... YOU ARE MY HERO!!!! You rock girl! I'm so proud of you for standing up for what you believe in and what's right! Keep fighting for nursing moms EVERYWHERE! ~mwah!~
Out of curiosity I did a query to see how my posts in my blog mention nursing. Here's the posts if you're interested. 9 posts come up with the search breastfeeding. A whopping 48 come up using nursing!
Ok mamas... how many times does your blog mention nursing or breastfeeding?
No comments:
Post a Comment