Today's nurse-in: How did it go??????? - Page 2

[mommyto3girls]

Here in Toledo Ohio we had 3 momma's with nurslings and my 3 year old nursing her "baby" We were hoping for more mommies to join us. We walked through the store browsing and nursing, all wearing our babies in various slings/wraps. One local newsstation sent the cameraman but his camera ghot the boot from mall security. He put his camera away and came back and browsed the store with us. They were friendly, commenting on the babies. We asked if they carried nursing bras and were told NO, I commented on the untapped market that they were missing. One girl asked if she could use the dressing room to nurse and the new sales girl wasn't sure but went to ask and was told yes. I was nursing Sage while waiting in line (yes, I did buy a bra) there was a couple in front of us with an infant and young toddler. The toddler was reaching for the baby's bottle and the dad kept telling her it wasn't hers, then he reaches in the diaper bag and pulls out something I had never seen before. It was a baby bottle shaped like a old fashioned glass coca-cola bottle, even said coca-cola on it and it was filled with cola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He hands it to her and then says to his wife loudly "I can't believe she's (gesturing to me) doing THAT right here in line!" I so badly wanted to say to Lesha (one of the other moms) "I can't believe he's feeding his daughter cola in a bottle" Said with the same disdain he had used for me!

After we finished walking through VS we went with the reporter to a gas station near the mall (so he could get the mall in the background) He interviewed Lesha and Betsy. I was really upset, I had given him alot of info at the mall, but then my husband asked that I not speak on camera. He is a public school principal in the area and did not want me making an on camera statement that could put him in an uncomfortable situation with his job. I thought the exact opposite, but compromised with him by being on camera but not speaking. He also took some footage of us wearing our babies and Maia wearing her baby doll while talking to each other. I assume this will be used as background footage for the story the anchor will be doing. He said they had a lot of info already. Ohio passed a NIP law last year. I believe they are goign to use this as an oportunity to educate people about the NIP law so hopefully that will be good.

Sadly, right before we started I took my daughter to the bathroom, there was a young mom nursing onthe bench int he bathroom totally covered up with a blanket! I was so glad she was nursing but sad to see her in a bathroom adn covered. he mother was with her also and about swallowed her teeth when I asked the girl to join us at Victoria's Secret. I was sure to tell her how lucky we are in oHio to have the NIP law, so maybe she will be more comfotable about NIP next time her baby is hungry.

I'll post a link if they put the story on their website

[Beeblebrox]

Hey everyone!
We just got back from the fanueil Hall Nurse-in, I'd say total there were about 15 moms. The Boston Herald came and interviewed several as well as took pictures. FOX 25 also came and I think I probably sounded like a bumbling idiot because I was so nervous! We'll see how it goes. I'll post the small video we took later on. Right now I'm STARVING!

[EVC]

It was a baby bottle shaped like a old fashioned glass coca-cola bottle, even said coca-cola on it and it was filled with cola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He hands it to her and then says to his wife loudly "I can't believe she's (gesturing to me) doing THAT right here in line!"

: : : Yeah, bf'ing is much more shocking than giving a baby a bottle of cola : : :

[EVC]

The Boston Herald came and interviewed several as well as took pictures.

Links to stories when you get them, please

[Mamapits]

Hi,
We had 6 of us and 2 dads were there also. We were mostly on the bench outside of the store mostly. No press showed up.
I decided to go ask the VS emplyees if they knew about us coming there and the asst manager said "oh the nursing babies. we had a meeting on that this morning. We were told to welcome you and to let everyone know that it is our policy that we are breastfeeding friendly and if you ned a dressing room, you are wlcome to use ours, of course if there is a line you will need to wait. You can ask any of the girls who work here nad they will tell you the same thing. I nursed all 3 of my children"

I felt some satisfaction in that since we wanted to bring awareness to VS emplyees. It seem that is what happened.

I think we need to stay on top of them and make sure we get them to post signs that state their policy in plain view for all cutomers and emplyees to see. I would like to see something on their website as well.

[guestmama9924]

to all of you mamas!

[hopefulfaith]

You mamas are awesome!

Keep the stories coming!

[teachinmaof3]

Oh oh...we also had a dad!!

Heather we really need to get together. Tulsa seems so much more crunchy than OKC. Argh.

I would love to meet you sometime!!!! I get all the emails of your fun OKC HS'ing get togethers and wish I could join you all. If only gas wasn't so stinking expensive!!

[coloradoalice]

Denver

We had 5 nursing moms, 2 dads, and 3 non-nursing moms for support!!!

We just all stood outside the enterance of the store talking and nursing. It was great. Mall Security and management were eyeing us but nobody said anything. We left after about 30 minutes. I did notify the local media but none of them came. Oh well, we definiately made an impact, and we had fun!!!


ETA- We were at Park Meadows Mall, and I know there was a group at Cherry Creek also. How did that one go??

[TeaBag]

Well, it was just me. A friend came about ten after 1 for moral support, dd nursed for a few minutes and then popped off and said "I don't want any more nilkies, Mommy!" like I was forcing her! Stayed for about 25-30 minutes and then left. They did have A TON of employees in the store, I went in and asked about nursing bras, was told they didn't ahve any and that was it. All in all....not very empowering at all. Kind of felt like a fool and was really glad the media didn't show up.

[BennyPai]

Total of 25 supporters!

The Wilmington, NC V.S. was visited by a total of 25 breastfeeding supporters. 14 adults total, including 2 dads & a couple without children.

Most of us met at a mall entrance just before 1. I brought some flyers clarifying our purpose, containing points sent to me by our Wilmington organizer, as well as a copy of an email she received from Limited in response to this issue.
We introduced ourselves. What an impressive group! Everyone I met was so articulate & personable. It was a relief that we all shared the same agenda as well: to peacefully promote breastfeeding in public.
We headed to V.S. together, and organized in front. Again, our wonderful Wilmington organizer took charge & suggested we all go inside together and announce our purpose. She asked an employee to get the manager. The manager seemed a little on edge. She wasn't rude - I sensed she might be nervous about our intentions. She responded with knowledge of V.S. breastfeeding policies and made it clear that breastfeeding is welcome at V.S.

We then exited the store and stood out front, some of us sitting on a bench and others keeping up with our toddlers a few feet away, who had discovered one of those platforms with mechanical riding toys (don't know what they're actually called...). At least two of us wound up nursing our babes, because they happened to be hungry.


A reporter from Star news came and did some interviews. It seemed to go well. I tried to keep my responses on topic, but I have a tendency to ramble. Afterward, we all went on our way. A couple of us brought our toddlers to the play area in the mall.

& I didn't take any pictures at the event - but I had dh take some of the t-shirt I painted last night. I found the nursing Mama image online & borrowed it for the shirt. Anyway, here are the lactivist shirt pics:

[wonderwahine]

at aurora, il there was only me and wendygrace, and our dh's....the store was configured so there was nowhere to sit except the dressing rooms, the display windows were closed off so you couldnt even sit there. so we sat outside and nursed at the fountain across from the store since there was nowhere to sit right in front of the store. I'm not sure if wendygrace noticed it, but she got a dirty look from one mom who stood near us with her baby in the stroller drinking formula out of a playtex bottle, so i stared at the woman and started to feed ds as well. as soon as her dp got back they took off in a huff.

me and dh stayed in the mall for a while longer and got some lunch, and instead of going to the family room they have set up (with cubbys with curtains and everything) i nursed ds right in the middle of the foodcourt, i got a few evil looks but a woman directly beside us smiled at me.

[firstkid4me]

I don't even know how many mamas came to Regency, I think about 10, and a lactation consultant from a hospital in town came to show her support. 2 news stations came by and a newspaper, but the news stations didn't stop and talk with me. I called one of them to see what their angle was going to be, and they said they talked to the person who organized the nurse-in, so I'm curious who they talked to

[TRIBE]

<would love to hearabout the NC nurse in!!>

I don't think anyone showed up the the CT VS here. I was late (umm *blush* around 4-ish) and DD didn't want to nurse. I was wearing my "Got Breast Milk?" tank. It was a good experience inside tho. DH wanted a specific bra for me and the sales lady asked my size. When she asked if i was sure i was that cup I said laughingly "Well ONE is" (oh the joy of lopsided nursing boobies) to which she asked "Are you breastfeeding?" like it was the most normal thing ever. I loved it and said of course Then at the dressing room the sales rep asked what my shirt said so i told her. She smiled and said "thats cute!"

There was a pregnant lady there who kept staring at me but I am not sure if she was more interested in my sling or what my shirt said and i was too shy to ask.

So sounds like either the word was out about today even in our small town or those 2 sales reps are just way cool

[annettemarie]

I'm so proud of all of you! Obviously, you did make a huge difference. Great job!

[tamaranadia]

We had about 15 moms in Kennesaw, north of Atlanta, Georgia.

[Jennie143]

I was at Town Center in the burbs of Atlanta, GA and there was about 10-15 of us. I will post some pictures later. Tamaranadia had printed some pages with the press release and the Georgia breastfeeding law on them to pass out to people. We stayed out at the entrance of the store to have a little more exposure to mall goers. We all sat and nursed for a little while, but many babies were too excited by all the commotion to cooperate. Many people stopped to inquire what we were doing and we explained we were trying to raise awareness, etc. I was shocked though, by how many people looked at us in disgust, like we were doing some "dirty or unsanitary". There was even a rude comment made to one of the other ladies there by a woman who claimed to have been a nursing mother herself! Hopefully she will post about that little exchange in this thread. I definitely think we enlighten some people about breastfeeding in public and the rights of mothers/babies. Oh, when we first got there, I walked inside of VS to give them one of the sheets with the press release and whatnot. I asked if she had heard of it and she said no. I could not believe that!! How could all employees not have been informed about this?? Obviously this is still not on the top of the priority list at VS to inform their employees. Not only that, but no employee came out and acknowledged us at any point while we were there. I thought that VS welcomed the nurse-in? Clearly not.

[tamaranadia]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a55.../nursein27.jpg

Sorry, I'm not sure how to post a picture here.

[Dimples_2005]

I went to Melbourne Square in Melbourne, FL, and I was the only mama there, I think. I was offered a fitting room, but I declined. The sales associates were looking me over like I was a bomb ready to detonate, but other than that it was uneventful. I didn't stay long at all, my boy was trying to rearrange the panty displays.

[all boys]

kudos to all you!!!