Here's the letter I sent to the store, and to the newspaper. So far, I've only heard from the paper. They want to interview me, which I'm nervous about because I'm afraid I'll somehow be misrepresented
"On Wednesday, February 11 at about 9:30 pm, I was nursing my 8 month old son on the bench by the elevators at the Atlantic Superstore in [my town], as I often do. Usually, older people comment to me how good it is for my baby, and during the busy holiday season, one young mom commended me for nursing in public, as she had never been comfortable doing so. I didn't think I was being brave; after all, I was simply doing what is best for my baby. Breastmilk is nature's perfect infant food.
On this night, however, I was approached by a staff member, X, who asked me to cover myself. I was taken aback, and responded defensively with something that wasn't quite accurate, saying that it is illegal to ask a nursing mother to cover herself. Actually, the law simply protects a woman's right to breastfeed wherever she is legally allowed to be, with no caveat regarding exposure of flesh. Her comments distracted my nursling, bringing the feeding to an early end anyway, but I did attempt to make it clear to her that I was simply feeding my baby and was well within the law. She claimed that customers were complaining, but I suspect it was another staff member who had talked to her, as the store was not very busy, and the bench is next to a staff door. I was sitting behind my shopping cart, so I doubt I would have been easily viewed by any customers.
This was the very same day that a demonstration was being held at the IWK hospital in Halifax, because of a similar situation. The sad thing is that breastfeeding rates here [in our region] are far behind those in the Capital Health District. And no wonder: If members of this community and local businesses are so unsupportive of nursing in public, mothers, like the one who approached me last year, cannot feel welcome in feeding their children.
The general public needs to be aware that breastfeeding is legally protected, and if they are so perverse as to be offended by a feeding infant, they will just have to look the other way! I will not throw a blanket over my baby's face as he eats, for many reasons. 1) It wouldn't stay there -- he'd yank it off over and over 2) It would obstruct his airflow 3) It is important for emotional and social development for a nursing baby to be able to make eye contact with his or her mother 4) I'm not doing anything wrong. It's not simply that exposed breasts are offensive, because no one seems to be suggesting that blankets be placed over all the fashion magazines revealing copious breast tissue. And to think, there's no infant head covering most of the breast in those magazines!
The only thing I'm thankful for about that night is that my two daughters weren't with me to witness this baneful attitude of some members of society -- the mixed message that it's ok to show revealing cleavage to be sexy on a magazine cover, but if you're feeding your baby, you should be covering your skin to avoid offending others.
From you, the managers of the Atlantic Superstore, I would like a formal apology, as well as reassurance that this incident is isolated, and does not reflect your store policy. Please make sure that your policies are consistent with Nova Scotia law in this regard, and make sure that nursing mothers feel welcome feeding their children in your stores. This letter is also being sent to various media organizations.
I am also attaching information about an upcoming program that I believe your staff would benefit from, titled "Exploring Breastfeeding in our Communities". Given the experience I had at your store, I feel it would be beneficial to the nursing moms who are also your customers, if a representative from the Atlantic Superstore was to attend this upcoming event. I will contact [public health nurse] to ask that she extend the deadline for this purpose.
Sincerely,
Pam M
"
"On Wednesday, February 11 at about 9:30 pm, I was nursing my 8 month old son on the bench by the elevators at the Atlantic Superstore in [my town], as I often do. Usually, older people comment to me how good it is for my baby, and during the busy holiday season, one young mom commended me for nursing in public, as she had never been comfortable doing so. I didn't think I was being brave; after all, I was simply doing what is best for my baby. Breastmilk is nature's perfect infant food.
On this night, however, I was approached by a staff member, X, who asked me to cover myself. I was taken aback, and responded defensively with something that wasn't quite accurate, saying that it is illegal to ask a nursing mother to cover herself. Actually, the law simply protects a woman's right to breastfeed wherever she is legally allowed to be, with no caveat regarding exposure of flesh. Her comments distracted my nursling, bringing the feeding to an early end anyway, but I did attempt to make it clear to her that I was simply feeding my baby and was well within the law. She claimed that customers were complaining, but I suspect it was another staff member who had talked to her, as the store was not very busy, and the bench is next to a staff door. I was sitting behind my shopping cart, so I doubt I would have been easily viewed by any customers.
This was the very same day that a demonstration was being held at the IWK hospital in Halifax, because of a similar situation. The sad thing is that breastfeeding rates here [in our region] are far behind those in the Capital Health District. And no wonder: If members of this community and local businesses are so unsupportive of nursing in public, mothers, like the one who approached me last year, cannot feel welcome in feeding their children.
The general public needs to be aware that breastfeeding is legally protected, and if they are so perverse as to be offended by a feeding infant, they will just have to look the other way! I will not throw a blanket over my baby's face as he eats, for many reasons. 1) It wouldn't stay there -- he'd yank it off over and over 2) It would obstruct his airflow 3) It is important for emotional and social development for a nursing baby to be able to make eye contact with his or her mother 4) I'm not doing anything wrong. It's not simply that exposed breasts are offensive, because no one seems to be suggesting that blankets be placed over all the fashion magazines revealing copious breast tissue. And to think, there's no infant head covering most of the breast in those magazines!
The only thing I'm thankful for about that night is that my two daughters weren't with me to witness this baneful attitude of some members of society -- the mixed message that it's ok to show revealing cleavage to be sexy on a magazine cover, but if you're feeding your baby, you should be covering your skin to avoid offending others.
From you, the managers of the Atlantic Superstore, I would like a formal apology, as well as reassurance that this incident is isolated, and does not reflect your store policy. Please make sure that your policies are consistent with Nova Scotia law in this regard, and make sure that nursing mothers feel welcome feeding their children in your stores. This letter is also being sent to various media organizations.
I am also attaching information about an upcoming program that I believe your staff would benefit from, titled "Exploring Breastfeeding in our Communities". Given the experience I had at your store, I feel it would be beneficial to the nursing moms who are also your customers, if a representative from the Atlantic Superstore was to attend this upcoming event. I will contact [public health nurse] to ask that she extend the deadline for this purpose.
Sincerely,
Pam M
"
Your letter is very nice. I hope you get some results!
excellent letter. i will gladly write to loblaws too. nak.
