I was summoned for federal jury duty in mid Jan 07, but as I was about to give birth I called and got a postponement. DD was born on 2/12/07. I got another summons in July 07, again called and explained that I bf my dd full-time so got another raincheck.
I just got another summons and so called again b/c dd, not quite 11 mos old, is still nursing (of course!). So I called and was given alot of grief. The person I spoke with asked exactly how long I planned on breastfeeding, I said at least 2 yrs, which now I feel like I shouldn't have even answered- I have a baby and it's none of their business. She said no way she could grant another postponement that long, only until May. I said, "at this point my baby gets about 95% of her nourishment from me, I have no idea what things will be like in May so we'll see when the time comes." The lady then asked why I couldn't make arrangements to have someone watch her and pump. Again, I shouldn't have had to explain myself, but I answered that I don't respond well to a pump and it takes about 30 minutes to get .5 oz.
Ughhhh. If I lived in a culture that was accepting of bf'ing past 6 months, I wouldn't have been made to feel like an idiot. Additionally, I think there is a problem that pumping is seen as being interchangeable with bf'ing. Yea, pumping can be really helpful for some people. I choose not to pump and give my baby expressed milk, foremost because my baby and I prefer to nurse, and also b/c pumps don't work for me. I just really feel like there is a big difference btwn the 2 and you can't just assume that a nursing mom pumps.
Has anyone had a similar experience with jury duty and how'd you handle it? I am dreading the next summons in May.
I just got another summons and so called again b/c dd, not quite 11 mos old, is still nursing (of course!). So I called and was given alot of grief. The person I spoke with asked exactly how long I planned on breastfeeding, I said at least 2 yrs, which now I feel like I shouldn't have even answered- I have a baby and it's none of their business. She said no way she could grant another postponement that long, only until May. I said, "at this point my baby gets about 95% of her nourishment from me, I have no idea what things will be like in May so we'll see when the time comes." The lady then asked why I couldn't make arrangements to have someone watch her and pump. Again, I shouldn't have had to explain myself, but I answered that I don't respond well to a pump and it takes about 30 minutes to get .5 oz.
Ughhhh. If I lived in a culture that was accepting of bf'ing past 6 months, I wouldn't have been made to feel like an idiot. Additionally, I think there is a problem that pumping is seen as being interchangeable with bf'ing. Yea, pumping can be really helpful for some people. I choose not to pump and give my baby expressed milk, foremost because my baby and I prefer to nurse, and also b/c pumps don't work for me. I just really feel like there is a big difference btwn the 2 and you can't just assume that a nursing mom pumps.
Has anyone had a similar experience with jury duty and how'd you handle it? I am dreading the next summons in May.
