Article on Breastfeeding Mother

[Owen'nZoe]

I've never actually posted in Lactivism before, so please forgive me if I'm in the wrong spot, or am misusing the forum.

A newspaper in my area recently covered an 'incident' in which a mother nursed her infant while on the stand in court.

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/82690932.html


"A mom from Milwaukee was pleading guilty to a crime in a Waukesha County courtroom when her baby became fussy and hungry, so she proceeded to give her baby a breast-fed meal while giving her guilty plea...

Workers in Judge Nettesheim's courtroom were shocked.

'They were similarly taken aback for a moment,' admitted Nettesheim."


While the author was not completely negative about breastfeeding in public, the story is scensationalistic in nature, and I believe will make it even more uncomfortable for mothers to opt to nurse their children in public, for fear that they will end up in the news for doing so.

I've written to the news channel, and hope others will consider doing so as well:


General & News Comments
email: [e-mail]
call: 414-967-5444

[lilli'smom]

IDK, I would almost consider that setting a legal precedant on allowing nursing moms to actually nurse in court. Many courts and judges would have had mom held in contempt or arrested for doing so in the courtroom, much less during her own guilty plea.

I am proud of that judge!

[Amatullah0]

AWESOME!!!!

The article made breast feeding seem dirty or something but the actions of the court, and the judge were just amazing!!!!

[Owen'nZoe]

Yes, I have to agree that the judge's actions were commendable, even if his initial reaction was reported as shock. But Amatullah, my reaction was the same as yours - that the journalist was treating it as something dirty.

[phrogger]

I guess I would be shocked too frankly. Not the nursing, but bringing an infant to court. I guess it would just be something I wouldn't think to do. So with that in mind, I think everyone did a fantastic job with just going about their business and shows that you can do pretty much anything with a baby as long as there is a boob ready to go. I know I can take my 7 month old anywhere, if he fusses, I feed him. That might be why he is almost 19 lbs, he likes to fuss. But really, now I wont even think it is weird to have a baby in court.

[Sheryl1678]

I had took my baby to a WI court a few months ago for child support (not criminal court) and nursed her in front of the entire court and judge and hardly anyone batted an eye. I was pleasantly surprised.

[Claire and Boys]

It's sad that this even has to be a headline. You'd never see one saying "Mother bottle feeds baby in court" would you? Breastfeeding is feeding a baby. It's normal. Had she let her baby fuss it have been far more of a disruption to the proceedings. Why does this provoke shock?

[proudmomof4]

While I didn't like either how the journalist bathed in how "shocked" some people were, the judge's handling of the "situation" was great.
What happened? A mother breastfed her baby. So what's the big deal? Nothing, really, so let's get on with life.

[jecombs]

Items that are "news":
1. Earthquake in Haiti
2. Healthcare reform
3. Unemployment and poverty

"mom feeds her baby"... not so much. Did this paper have nothing better to write about?

[Lil'Momma]

I do think this part is sad:

"I've been a judge for about 35 years, and I've seen most everything, but this one was novel, and different."


Was it different because he had never seen the act or different because he had never seen someone feeding their child in public or just never seen someone feeding in the court room, (which I guess is possible if infants aren't really supposed to be in court.).

Either way I love the way he handled it, just going on as if it was normal.

[Belle]

nak
i actually like this article.

So Kiyo, who's 35, did what many moms do, even in public places.

It makes it sound like an everyday occurance. Even though the judge may not have seen that before. The author of the article is aware that some of his readers might not approve of NIP and tries to spin positive it in a casual way.

ITA that the judge's reaction was great.