cant attend class because Im breastfeeding - Page 2

[nikirj]

I'm sorry memory maker. I see where you're coming from. The comment that this makes us look petty was entirely in response to the idea of involving newspapers and politicians; I fully understand why you're upset. I did NOT mean to call you or your worries petty. I simply think that it does not occassion quite the lactivist arms-muster that Momtwice suggested, simply because that makes the cause, as an entirety, look petty. I would not have dreamed of using the word in response to your original post. Please continue posting knowing that you are understood here.

[Janice in Canada]

135.30A Breastfeeding in Public Places
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a woman may breast-feed the woman's own child in any public place where the woman's presence is otherwise authorized.

Thanks for that - I didn't realize that. hmm, that's good to know. I think that's a little different from what our Cdn Human Rights says. I'll have to look into it.

Janice

[cinnamonamon]

I understand where you're coming from w/ the fussy baby, but perhaps your dh will be able to distract her -- especially for 2 hours in a new (fun to look at) place.

[GatorNNP]

Dont ask, just do (gotta light?, i needa smoke)

Here is what I propose, pretend we are smokers and just act like we have right to BF anywhere (especially since we pretty much do). We see smokers flagrantly smoking just about anywhere they darn well please and hardly anyone would ever say a thing to them. Yeah I have cought them in hospitals, near oxygen, at the gas station etc. Do they ask ahead of time (can I smoke here? I really need one or I get cranky, uh no!)

Instead of being so nice and worried, why don't we just do what we wanna do? I have learned (yeah in my ripe old 20's) that it is usually easier to get forgiveness than permission. When my baby wouldn't take a bottle he came to see me at work. I work in an intensive care unit with doctors, residents, etc. At the time our unit was under reconstruction so we had no offices or any private areas -except the pumping room which I would not occupy because our patients mommies needed it to pump- all of our charting/break taking/lockers etc was done in one room cabin style, so when my little guy came to see me for his lunch I stayed right in my chair at the desk where I chart and yeah, wipped out the boob. It was no private affair especially since at 5 months he was really preoccupied with the dancing screen savers on the computer screens and all the staffers eating lunch to smile and coo at him. I just figured I was setting a good example for all those pediatricians to be on what a baby should be fed. Even my boss came in one day and was wondering what was going on, I told him well he won't eat while I am at work and we don't have enough staff for me to leave. All he said was one of his kids wouldn't take a bottle too! He wanted to take his wife out on a anniversary dinner in a limousine and she said to him--I'll go but you only get 3 hours cuz I have to be back for the baby! Well she never had to go to work so I'm sure it was nice they didn't have to deal with that situation.

As for your meeting, if you just came in and sat in the back with baby in a sling or on lap and she is usually quiet and just needs her milk then next time just bring her and don't ask.

[stockingup99]

Big Hugs. We're here for you.

No one should be able to decide where is appropriate for me to be a mom, except me. I shatters my reality every time I encounter someone who feels they have the right to say what is appropriate for my child.

I have returned to work full time six weeks after each child was born. Every child is different. Just because I could pump and work full time and keep two kids formula free, doesn't mean that I should feel that you or your child need to make the same choices.

You have every right to get supported here.

My dream sequence for the training day: You worry through class, and baby sleeps in car driven by daddy. Hoping for the best.

[Ravin]

Your big mistake imo was asking permission.

That said, I'd do like PP's suggested, nurse right outside class then have DH there w/ baby immediately after.

FWIW, I took DD to class with me when she was about 11 mos. and ill (fever so no daycare but not really that sick), and stayed in the back so I could beat a hasty retreat if needed. I warned the profs at the beginning of class; one was a big lecture so large they prolly didn't know she was there and she made a lot less noise than many freshmen; another was a cultural anthropology class and the prof had seen plenty of bf'ing mothers doing all sorts of other things at the same time in his fieldwork so it didn't phase him.

[memory maker]

Originally Posted by Ravin

Your big mistake imo was asking permission.

.

I know, I wish now I wouldnt have. I think I will try it out and see how it goes with dh and the kids walking around while Im in the class. Hope the 2 older kids will cooperate too. I know there is a horse barn near by so maybe they can walk by it and visit.

[memory maker]

I just sent an email to the lady who is in charge of planning this class to let her know what the law states if someone else were to come to them in the future and need to nurse their baby as well. It will be interesting to see what her response is

[Fiercemama]

I agree - the start of the problem is asking for permission. But perhaps the horse has now left the barn.

If the person you spoke to is not the instruction, perhaps you could try just showing up with DC in a sling and DH anyways. What have you got to lose? Either she'll have a problem with it, or will not include your attendance, or she'll be fine with it. Nurse just before class, and after. Sit near the back, so DH can call you out quietly if needed.

Show the instructor that you are prepared to make it work for everyone involved. In my experience as a WOHM, that often goes a lot further than threatening people with the law.

I too am disgusted that this is the response from any organization that is supposed to be supporting the needs of children and working mothers. Reminds me of mothers who have been told they cannot bf their kids at the daycare.

I don't think your problem is petty at all, especially considering the profession you are in. As another poster pointed out, you likely chose this career in order to be close to your young children.

[JamesMama]

Are you taking this class at DMACC? I took some child development classes through DMACC, the teachers were super accomadating about bringing babies. Offically it was against the rules, but the teachers were cool about it. We had one pg mama and she had the baby and came back to class (it was an all day deal, 3 classes, 2 teachers, same room) with the baby and a stroller. She nursed when the baby needed to nurse, changed diapers on the floor, and the baby went to the stroller when he was asleep. It wasn't a huge deal.

I'm not sure who would teach just a single class like that though...if you are at DMACC.

But I agree with the pp's 2 hours isn't THAT long, have hubby come and put your cell on vibe, if he REALLY needs you he can buzz you and you can slip out to the bathroom and you can top her off in 10 minutes or less and slip back to class.

[mnnice]

While I think that what you were told it not morally right.

As a practical matter I think your partner should try a couple of 2 hour "dry runs". I bet your child would be fine as long as the meeting is not at a key hour (i.e. bed time). Both my DS 's will/did get along better without nursing if I was out of sight, especially if they could fall asleep in the sling or backpack.

[~Megan~]

You may find that if she is kept occupied and away from you then she will not require nursing every hour.

My ds will go longer between nursing if he can't see me.

If I were in your situation I'd either wait to take the class. Or I'd bring dh with me and have him page me when baby got hungry and nurse quickly (I can usually do it in under 10 minutes) and then get back in class. If you nurse right before and right after you should be just fine.

I think the reason they (people at the place you are taking the class) are questioning you bringing the child is that most people think of babies your dc's age as going more than 2 hours between nursings. Of course we all know that's not true for all babies!

[blissful_maia]

Originally Posted by JesiLynne

I'd go anyway with baby in sling.
If you are asked to leave, DONT

:

[memory maker]

Here is the email that I received back in reference to my email telling her for future reference what the law states.I also told her that I was going to be attending the class and leaving to nurse if needed.

here is what she said paraphrased (sorry didnt know I couldnt write the exact email)
she said that it sounds like a good idea, but if gone more than my allotted 15 minutes I couldnt count the class. She gave me another option of an online class.

What are they going to do, put a timer on me when I leave to see how long Im gone? Also the site that she gave me to take the class online is being questioned by the DHS worker that is in charge of daycares.

[Ammaarah]

Yikes, she's a stickler for the rules, huh?

[memory maker]

I was just thinking. Since the law states that my baby can be nursed anywhere that she can legally be, then I wouldnt even have to be gone for 15 minutes. I think what I plan on doing is go to the class, have dh watch her and when she needs to nurse, go get her, get her latched on and continue on with the class. IF she is still awake after that I will take her back to dh.

[flyingspaghettimama]

MM, try this: get a baby monitor. If you need to leave class, leave the "monitoring" part in the classroom and the "listening" part goes with you. You can listen in on class while nursing your baby out in the hall, and they can't say that you aren't really there. They will be so impressed with your ingenuity that they're not going to do squat about you not being in class.

I would do as other posters suggest - bring baby and dad/friend to walk around outside while you're in class. If the baby needs to eat, you'll hear crying out in the hall and know it's time to take a break with your handy dandy monitoring device.

This is what I did when finishing two quarters of grad school. Worked for me!

[memory maker]

Originally Posted by flyingspaghettimama

MM, try this: get a baby monitor. If you need to leave class, leave the "monitoring" part in the classroom and the "listening" part goes with you. You can listen in on class while nursing your baby out in the hall, and they can't say that you aren't really there. They will be so impressed with your ingenuity that they're not going to do squat about you not being in class.

I

Great Idea!! thanks

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by flyingspaghettimama

MM, try this: get a baby monitor. If you need to leave class, leave the "monitoring" part in the classroom and the "listening" part goes with you. You can listen in on class while nursing your baby out in the hall, and they can't say that you aren't really there. They will be so impressed with your ingenuity that they're not going to do squat about you not being in class.

I would do as other posters suggest - bring baby and dad/friend to walk around outside while you're in class. If the baby needs to eat, you'll hear crying out in the hall and know it's time to take a break with your handy dandy monitoring device.

This is what I did when finishing two quarters of grad school. Worked for me!

Wow! that is really ingenious. Good idea.