I have a run in with nursing my child. God I'm getting sick of this. it soo horrible here in Louisiana. What happened was while I was having the children check out at Children's' hospital because of an accident we were in I was getting my 5 children check out as my ped told me to do and while I was there I was told to go into a laction room. You could see nothing I was well with in my rights and should not have to leave my family just to feed my child I've had enough of being judged on this matter so I have a few choices... one quit breastfeeding not happening !! stay inside until Emmaleigh weans not happening !!! so I'm choice to take a stand !!! just not sure where to go with it I was told I should hit the media I mean this was Children hospital here a letter .....
First Off I would like to say how grateful I am that we have a children's hospital in my area for when our children are in need of a hospital. It is a great resource to have. Being a Children's hospital, I would think that the whole hospital staff would be educated about breasfeeding, mothers rights, and the laws for breastfeeding mothers. Apparently, I am wrong.
On January 4, 2008, my family was in need of a visit to the Children's hospital due to the recommendation of my pediatrician because of an automobile accident my 5 children, my husband, & I were in. While waiting to be seen in the ER my four month old premature baby was in need of a feeding. I proceeded to feed her as I do everyday whether it be at the mall, doctor's office, park, ect. As I began to feed her a woman working in admitting by the name of Maria along with another woman by the name of Kimberly called me over to inform me that they had a lactation room. I feel this is wonderful for those mothers who do not feel comfortable nursing in a room of people. However, myself I have no problems nursing in a room of people. This is my 5th child so I have a good bit of experience in doing so. When she informed me of the room I told her, "Thank you but do I have to go in there?" She informed me that was what the room was for. I expressed my need to stay with my family to help watch my other 4 children (who are all under 7 years old) and that I did not wish to go into that room. She informed me that the room was for breastfeeding mothers. I told her I shouldn't have to nurse my child there due to having older children in the waiting room who needed care. She told me that their father could watch them. I told her that I would prefer to stay with them. She then said that there were older children in the waiting room and that I should think about them. I told her that it would be educational for them to see a woman nursing her baby. She said, "Then educate them by going into the lactation room." I stated that I had a right to breastfeed my child there. Luckily I was called back soon after, however I was made very uncomfortable and felt very unwelcome.
I understand not everyone is comfortable with nursing mothers, but we do need to realize that it is 2008 and mothers these days have rights in Louisiana. The law states she is allowed to nurse her child in any place her child and her are authorized to be. I understand the reason for the lactation room, but I feel the staff admitting people do not. I know some people are not comfortable with nursing mothers, but nursing mothers should not have to be discriminated against because of uneducated people. The law prohibits segregation of nursing mothers. While I sat in the room to nurse my baby there was another mother across from me who was bottle feeding her infant. I feel that if I am not allowed to feed my child the way she eats free of persecution then I believe bottle feeding mothers should get the same treatment.
I hope this letter helps you to understand how important it is that we educate the staff of our hospital because experiences like these are the ones that have our mothers quit breastfeeding even thought we know that our children are better off getting breastmilk then formula. The more support a mother receives during her time she breastfeeds the better her chances are of continuing breastfeeding and the more mothers we will have breastfeeding longer, and we will have more healthy children. And I think you have to agree that is our ultimate goal. I want to thank you for your time and hope this letter will bring light on education of the staff being the key here.
First Off I would like to say how grateful I am that we have a children's hospital in my area for when our children are in need of a hospital. It is a great resource to have. Being a Children's hospital, I would think that the whole hospital staff would be educated about breasfeeding, mothers rights, and the laws for breastfeeding mothers. Apparently, I am wrong.
On January 4, 2008, my family was in need of a visit to the Children's hospital due to the recommendation of my pediatrician because of an automobile accident my 5 children, my husband, & I were in. While waiting to be seen in the ER my four month old premature baby was in need of a feeding. I proceeded to feed her as I do everyday whether it be at the mall, doctor's office, park, ect. As I began to feed her a woman working in admitting by the name of Maria along with another woman by the name of Kimberly called me over to inform me that they had a lactation room. I feel this is wonderful for those mothers who do not feel comfortable nursing in a room of people. However, myself I have no problems nursing in a room of people. This is my 5th child so I have a good bit of experience in doing so. When she informed me of the room I told her, "Thank you but do I have to go in there?" She informed me that was what the room was for. I expressed my need to stay with my family to help watch my other 4 children (who are all under 7 years old) and that I did not wish to go into that room. She informed me that the room was for breastfeeding mothers. I told her I shouldn't have to nurse my child there due to having older children in the waiting room who needed care. She told me that their father could watch them. I told her that I would prefer to stay with them. She then said that there were older children in the waiting room and that I should think about them. I told her that it would be educational for them to see a woman nursing her baby. She said, "Then educate them by going into the lactation room." I stated that I had a right to breastfeed my child there. Luckily I was called back soon after, however I was made very uncomfortable and felt very unwelcome.
I understand not everyone is comfortable with nursing mothers, but we do need to realize that it is 2008 and mothers these days have rights in Louisiana. The law states she is allowed to nurse her child in any place her child and her are authorized to be. I understand the reason for the lactation room, but I feel the staff admitting people do not. I know some people are not comfortable with nursing mothers, but nursing mothers should not have to be discriminated against because of uneducated people. The law prohibits segregation of nursing mothers. While I sat in the room to nurse my baby there was another mother across from me who was bottle feeding her infant. I feel that if I am not allowed to feed my child the way she eats free of persecution then I believe bottle feeding mothers should get the same treatment.
I hope this letter helps you to understand how important it is that we educate the staff of our hospital because experiences like these are the ones that have our mothers quit breastfeeding even thought we know that our children are better off getting breastmilk then formula. The more support a mother receives during her time she breastfeeds the better her chances are of continuing breastfeeding and the more mothers we will have breastfeeding longer, and we will have more healthy children. And I think you have to agree that is our ultimate goal. I want to thank you for your time and hope this letter will bring light on education of the staff being the key here.
