Any experience with Social Security Breastfeeding Discrimination?

[guestmama9911]

I'm on disability for obsessive/compulsive disorder and anxiety. I had an exam scheduled for today to determine if I am disabled enough to still receive benefits.

However, the doctor would not see me because I had my two month old with me. He said no children are allowed at disability determination meetings. I told him she was exclusively breastfed on demand. He told me I'd have to get a pump and give her a bottle, or have no exam and have my disability determined without it.

I called the federal Social Security office and they knew nothing about this rule. I called my state disability office and they said that "that was the rule because children are distracting and I could leave her at home or go without the exam."

Have any of you had any experience with this, or suggestion on what to do next; or do I really need to risk having my baby screaming while I am gone for an hour and a half?

Thanks in advance.

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Alisa's DH subbing so I'm in the loop. :

[DreamsInDigital]

Do you have a friend or family member who could hold her in the waiting room? You could nurse her before you go in and then hopefully she'd be okay while you are in the exam room and then you can nurse her again right when you get done?

[mommyddeville]

I wish I had any idea. I hope someone has answers for you. It seems crazy to me, though.

[AnnR33]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

Do you have a friend or family member who could hold her in the waiting room? You could nurse her before you go in and then hopefully she'd be okay while you are in the exam room and then you can nurse her again right when you get done?

Yep, this is what I would do too.

I would still inquire about the discrimination and really push the issue to find out more about this. But in the mean time, if you need your disability issues dealt with then you don't want to jepordize them. I'm sure the red tape to get them back is a nightmare.

[captivatedlife]

Originally Posted by AnnR33

Yep, this is what I would do too.

I would still inquire about the discrimination and really push the issue to find out more about this. But in the mean time, if you need your disability issues dealt with then you don't want to jepordize them. I'm sure the red tape to get them back is a nightmare.

I say they need to make allowances - but you need your disability. I'd see if someone could go with you and hold her - good luck

[Meiri]

If SS never heard of that "rule", I'd bet that there isn't one.

However, sometimes "you" have to jump through the immediate hoops, then address the bs-ing bigot later.

That said, I've had exams, normal physicals, with a child present, and they are a distraction. The level of distraction is age related though. A sleeping baby in carseat is no distraction at all, while a curious toddler is a huge distraction.

[jeanine123]

Contact your local LLL leader and see if she can't hook you up with someone on the legal end of things to help you sort this out. LLL's pretty good about helping out with this sort of stuff.

[homewithtwinsmama]

There is actually a federal law that says that you can't be discriminated against on federal property. In other words, you have the right to nurse your baby on federal property. So if this is a federal office building the doctor is breaking the law. Please contact Rep. Carolyn Maloney of NY's office in Washington for more details. She was the one who sponsored this bill through Congress. It has been around a while, but many federal building employees are not made aware of it.

[CorasMama]

Also, contact your own Representative and your Senator. Look on their websites for "constituent services". Also, your rep.s in your state government. Get a copy of the federal law that Rep. Maloney got passed, and bring it with you to SS and the doctor's office.

Can a nurse hold her while the doc examines you?

This may have to be a case of jumping through the hoops and fighting them afterwards, in order to not lose your benefits.

Can one of your visiting teachers come with you to the doctor to hold the baby and so the baby has minimal separation?

[julie128]

That's weird. I was at our local Social Security office, getting ds his number, and we bf right in front of the man who was taking our information, and he didn't bat an eye. A lot of times, it's not the organization that is the problem; it's the people working for the organization that are the problem.

[guestmama9911]

This is the letter I just wrote

http://alisaterry.blogspot.com/2008/...imination.html

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I would have someone hold her for you out in the waiting area. Then I would raise a huge stink about it to anyone that would listen. Make sure you get your benifits first then deal with the discrimination.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by homewithtwinsmama

There is actually a federal law that says that you can't be discriminated against on federal property. In other words, you have the right to nurse your baby on federal property. So if this is a federal office building the doctor is breaking the law. Please contact Rep. Carolyn Maloney of NY's office in Washington for more details. She was the one who sponsored this bill through Congress. It has been around a while, but many federal building employees are not made aware of it.

I beleive it states that women may breastfeed anywhere that mother and child are authorized to be. The doctor could claim that the baby isn't authorized to be in the exam room. And really, it's the baby's presence that's being objected to, not the feeding method. It sounds like this doctor would be just as unwelcoming of a bottlefed infant during the exam.

[guestmama9911]

I just don't know if I can. That's part of my problem. When my baby cries, I cry.

It's such a stupid choice to have to make. (sigh)

I'm copying this letter to several different people and government offices.

At least they'll get to see me in an anxious state.

DH is going to reschedule another appointment for me. And then skip class to hold DD during the examination.

[CorasMama]

Originally Posted by alisaterry

This is the letter I just wrote

http://alisaterry.blogspot.com/2008/...imination.html

Yay! for you! This is well written, and addresses the problem from multiple angles. Good job!

It gives me hope that, if I ever get my claim approved, and if I ever get to get off my meds long enough to have another baby or two, I may hopefully not have to go through what you went through!

Of course, the dr. who would do my exam would be in Olympia, WA, one of the crunchiest cities in the known world... I understand you're fighting an uphill battle in UT!

[guestmama9911]

Originally Posted by CorasMama

It gives me hope that, if I ever get my claim approved, and if I ever get to get off my meds long enough to have another baby or two, I may hopefully not have to go through what you went through!

!

I stayed on my meds during both pregnancies and while breastfeeding.

Good luck with your claim - it took me three years of appeals to get mine.

[Ruthla]

I got mine only 2 years after first applying, and on the 2nd appeal. From what I've read about others' experiences online, I got pretty lucky.

I do hope I've helped smoothe the way for others' with Fibromyalgia to get SSI/SSDI- but actually I think I benefitted from other people before me because the "medical expert" at my 2nd appeal was an expert in FMS, and he emphasized to the judge what I'd been saying all along- I can't do things considtently, not that I'm completely unable to do certain movements. (The first medical expert was a psychiatrist and she reafirmed what I'd also been saying, that my depression has healed.)

I never had to worry about BFing and SSI because I had 3 kids before I was even diagnosed. I can't see having any more babies unless I experience some major healing- but I don't know what the future will hold.

[guestmama9911]

Some doctors are STILL insisting Fibromyalgia doesn't even exist. How frustrating that must be!!

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by alisaterry

Some doctors are STILL insisting Fibromyalgia doesn't even exist. How frustrating that must be!!

It's simple enough to get a diagnosis. It's even getting easier every year to get a diagnosis that will qualify you for SSD. (And I know some about the process - my grandmother was denied SSD for YEARS even though she had several doctors confirm her GP's dianosis of lupus)

I wonder what a single mom would be expected to do with a baby during an exam?