nursing @ the DMV in NC

[nomadsindiansaints]

On Friday, I went to the DMV (I'm in North Carolina) to get a copy of my driver's license.  My 13mo ds and my dp were with me.  DS started nursing a couple minutes before my number was called, so I just stood up and carried him over to the lady's desk while he continued to nurse.  She looked all kinds of freaked out, and said "You will have to, um, finish, um, what you're doing, um, in the bathroom, then you can come back when you're done."  I *almost* confronted her on it, but since this was the DMV and I needed something important immediately (instead of say, Target), I just looked at her, handed DS over to DP, and quickly got what I needed.

 

And it's been bugging me ever since.

 

I don't regret not saying anything in the moment, because she could have basically refused to give me what I needed and totally messed up my whole day's plan, but I would like to address the issue.  I'm not the quiet shy type, I nurse in public everywhere I go, and I'm not the least bit afraid to stand up for myself, but in the moment, it could have been a HUGE pain in the a$$ if she wanted to make it one.

 

So what would you smart mamas suggest I do now?

 

NC LAW § 14‑190.9. (b)        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

 

I have a lawyer friend that would probably sign off on a letter if I write one.  I'm not trying to sue them, and I'm not in an area where I would expect a nurse-in to come together, I just want to remind them of the laws.  If I could get something in the paper I would, but since it was such a quick and simple event, I don't know if it would get coverage around here.

[imagine21]

Did you get her name?

[nomadsindiansaints]

Yup!

[monica82]

Wow-that is so sad! It's things like these that make me & others so nervous about nursing in public. I switched to pump last time so didn't get a lot of experience w this. But am def working on getting more comfortable w/ it this time around.  I'm curious...where at in NC are/were you? I'm from there, but live in Ohio now.  I think that if it would have been me I would have been so rude. I mean what if u were by yourself. You don't just tell a child..."not right now sweetheart, this person doesn't agree w/ how we feed u." Just ticks me off. I hope u get a letter written & it makes u feel better.

[jeanine123]

I would write them a letter and send it return receipt or whatever it's called, where they need to sign that it was received.  I would ask to be informed of what action will be taken to retrain the staff and perhaps make it clear that if satisfactory action wasn't taken then you would consider contacting the media, etc.  I would also visit www.firstright.org  They can help you plan what steps to take as well as document this for any future use, pending NIP bills, etc.

[crystal_buffaloe]

I would write a letter. There are a few examples of complaint letters here (the last post gives a google doc form letter that you can customize). In it, I would ask for an appology, state the law, and I would want to know how staff were being trained to be in compliance with the law, and then I would mail that letter to as many people as I could reasonably think of (to the employee by name, to her manager, to the HR department, to the state agency, etc.)