Social & Legal Issues
Many mothers have qualms about breastfeeding in
public due to a natural modesty. However, there are a number of ways that you can breastfeed in public
without exposing yourself. If you wear clothing designed for nursing
mothers, you can nurse your baby and it will look to bystanders
like he is nestled in your arms. Practice in front of a mirror
for assurance and to make sure nothing shows. Nursing bras that you
can easily snap open with one hand will be a tremendous help. For extra
coverage you could drape a blanket or shawl over your shoulder to make
sure both baby and breast are covered.
If you still are nervous about breastfeeding your
baby in public you could always take your child into a dressing room or
public restroom and feed him there. More and more malls have family
restrooms equipped with couches that can be used for nursing and many
maternity and baby stores have special areas set aside for
breastfeeding.
Keep in mind that people will notice a crying baby long before they
notice a nursing one and that anywhere you have the right to be, you
have the right to nurse your baby.
Some of the legal issues facing breastfeeding mothers
include breastfeeding in public, family law, and employment issues.
Cases involving breastfeeding in public involve
situations where a mother is asked to stop, asked to leave an
establishment or is told to only nurse in a certain place. Legislation
has been enacted in over twenty states clarifying that women do have the
right to breastfeed in public, and there is pending legislation in a
number of other states.
Decisions in family law cases involving custody and
visitation rights can affect or even jeopardize the breastfeeding
relationship. Some mothers encounter difficulties on the job when they
want to continue breastfeeding after returning to work by expressing
milk during the work day. Several states have begun encouraging or even
mandating that employers accommodate nursing mothers after they return
to work. Mothers who seem to have the best support at work are those who
discuss their needs in advance with their employers. If employers
understand that breastfed babies get sick less often than formula fed
babies, they may be much more willing to work around a mother's need to
pump milk during the work day since she is less likely to miss time with
a sick child.
