February 23, 2007

Soapbox time

I’ve had it up to my eyebrows with people being offended by mothers nursing their babies in public. I’ve also had it with the old "cover up with a blanket" junk, because any nursing mom knows that from the time the baby is about three weeks old, that is no longer an option. Trying to cover up with a blanket only results in a cranky baby who rips the blanket down, and frustration and exposure for all involved.

I’m not advocating that women just whip out their breasts wherever and however they choose. There’s something to be said for being discreet, which describes 99.9% of nursing mothers.

It’s not an attention getting thing. It’s a nourishment thing, as in the baby is hungry, so I will feed my baby the way Mother Nature intended. Although I am no longer nursing, I have nursed my babies in public locations many times: restaurants, malls, doctors offices, on the beach, etc. I highly doubt anyone ever realized what I was doing, and if they did they were looking a bit too closely.

I found out this week that my state, the state of Pennsylvania, is one of only 13 states that has no legislation supporting a Mother’s right to nurse in public. That has to change.

It’s not that Mom’s want to sit topless somewhere in the middle of the grocery store, or that I think they should be doing that because I don’t. But there should be something protecting a woman and her baby’s right to feed and be fed.

I would invite anyone who thinks that Mom’s should go to the bathroom to nurse, or cover up with a blanket to eat their meals in a public restroom with a blanket over their heads. I think we all need to show a little more understanding and empathy towards other human beings in general. And there’s no better place to start than with Mom’s and babies.

If you live in the state of Pennsylvania, there are many people you can contact. If you don’t live in the state of PA, find out who you can contact if your state is one of the 13. In the state of PA, the contacts are as follows. Click on the name to go to the site where you can send your email.

Governor Rendell

PA State Senate

PA State Representatives

For more information on this topic and for specifics on what nursing Mom’s are dealing with this week, go see IzzyMom. You won’t even believe what she posted about this issue.

And just in case there are any dissenters out there, this is not your soapbox. Comments will be deleted if they are in any way rude or inappropriate. It’s my blog after all. And as a warning, IzzyMom was able to track down the employer of a rude commenter and promptly reported the threatening emails to the employer today. We bloggers are pretty computer savvy, especially when we’re ticked off!

Edited to add: Apparently there is already legislation in process in the state of PA. To make sure it gets passed this session, please contact your House Representatives. PA House Representative Babette Josephs has introduced this legislation. I’m already getting some excellent responses from the House Representatives in support of this bill, and will be sure to post the names of those in support.