Bleech! I've been volunteering in the library at my older daughter's public elementary school and someone who works there told me that a teacher had told her that my nursing in the library made her uncomfortable, and that she discussed the matter with the Vice Principal (without giving my name) and Principal and they felt I should nurse in the Librarian's office instead of the library.

This bothered me because I feel that the tell a nursing mother that she has to go someplace else to nurse is to discourage nursing, to make nursing difficult by preventing the mother from doing her normal activities. I informed the person of NC law stating that breastfeeding is permitted in any public place, and later provided her a copy of the legal text, which she said the Principal did read, but that I should breastfeed in the office.

I do like the people who work in the library quite a lot and feel that they are not responsible for making policy, but that the Principal and Vice Principal are making an unfortunate choice.

One thing the person in the library mentioned was what if a child told their parents they saw a woman's boob? I told her that would be a teachable moment to educate about mammals. Unfortunately, it is easier to hide a nursing mother away than to challenge those who take issue with breastfeeding in public.

In over 5 years of nursing, this is the first time anyone has said anything about it to me, though I know that other mothers have been in similar situations. I feel that I am rather discreet, using nursing clothes that don't show much and often nursing in a sling on the go. As often as not, people think my babies are sleeping when they're nursing, though sometimes they can tell - and they have the option of looking away if they don't want to see it.

It is unlikely that many other mothers would rise up to challenge this particular school's decision, and most likely it would be hazardous career-wise for the people who work in the library to challenge the decision.

The person in the library who told me this is very, very nice and said that she can see both sides of the issue and that her sister is a La Leche League organizer.

Is the library of a public school a public place? It's true that people can't just walk in there, like a shopping mall...but it is a public institution.

I do really like volunteering there, so I will nurse in the office, and I don't want to get the nice people who work in the library in trouble, but if it were anywhere else, I might be angling for a breastfeeding supporters sit-in type protest.

In North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Women’s and Children’s Health Section Nutrition Services Branch's publication Promoting, Protecting and Supporting Breastfeeding: A North Carolina Blueprint for Action, 2006 it states:

Recommendations for Action – Media, Social Marketing,
and Public Education

5. Incorporate breastfeeding content into the science and health
curricula of schools for preschool, primary, secondary, and
postsecondary education.


It also states:

Laws, Policies, and Regulations

VII. Promote and enforce new and existing laws, policies
and regulations that support and protect breastfeeding.

Increasingly, attention is being focused on the role of federal and state
legislation and regulatory action in the support and protection
of breastfeeding. North Carolina was among the first states in
the nation to review and amend state statutes for this purpose. In
1993, the N.C. General Assembly exempted breastfeeding from
the criminal statutes, and at the same time, clarified that women
have the right to breastfeed in public, even if there is exposure of
the breast.


If they are serious about wanting to get more mothers to initiate breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding longer, then even more effective than TV commercials is seeing people around them, their neighbors and peers breastfeeding in real everyday life - then it will seem common and therefore normal and do-able.

Anyway, I just wanted to vent to others who are supportive of breastfeeding, and hear your thoughts.

The state law is actually:

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-190.9 (1993) states that a woman is allowed to breastfeed in any public or private location, and that she is not in violation of indecent exposure laws

Please report this to www.firstright.org. They can offer suggestions and talking points in moving forward. Sometimes all it takes is a simple phone call to educate the offender.

It is illegal for them to tell you to stop breastfeeding or to go somewhere else. If someone complains then they can politely explain to the complainer that you have the right to nurse your child and if they are uncomfortable then they can move to another location. But under no circumstance should they confront you about it.

The full text of the law actually reads:
§ 14-190.9. Indecent exposure.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

In NC you can nurse anywhere you are otherwise authorized to be. Since you are otherwise authorized to be in the library (whether others are authorized or not), then you are allowed by law to nurse there. If they don't want you to nurse there, their recourse would be to revoke your authorization to be there and say you are trespassing. Whether the library is available to the general public or not is only relevant to the matter of if they can revoke your authorization to be there, not to whether you can nurse there. Plainly, as the situation stands, they cannot ask you not to nurse in the library unless they revoke your authorization to be in the library at all.

But, I'm not a lawyer - this is just my understanding of NC law after having dealt with being told not to nurse in two different locations here.

I would absolutely take all of this information to the principal and higher up if necessary. In one case where I was dealing with my daughter's school (daycare center really), it helped me to have said that I was consulting with a lawyer about this.

I do really like volunteering there, so I will nurse in the office, and I don't want to get the nice people who work in the library in trouble, but if it were anywhere else, I might be angling for a breastfeeding supporters sit-in type protest.

If I were you, I would NOT go to the office to breastfeed. It is allowing them to believe they have the right to tell women when and where they are allowed to nurse. That is wrong. I don't understand why you would want to do a protest if it were anywhere else, but not there. Why not? I'm confused.

I'm actually surprised that they allow a volunteer to bring a child with them.

I'm actually surprised that they allow a volunteer to bring a child with them.

When our school was looking for volunteers, I sent in the paperwork but stated on it, "I have a baby with me. I would like to volunteer but do not want to disrupt learning." I completely accepted that I may not be asked to volunteer.

They put me in the library, too. :lol

All you do in the library is put the books back. I will bring ds (11 mos) and his stroller and nurse him in the office simply because that's where I'M comfortable.

Thanks for the info about FirstRight.org; I have submitted an incident report.

The info I gave to the library employee to give to the principal was from the La Leche League website, so it may have been different from what I pasted here from another source, and should be the most up-to-date and correct version.

I really like the library employees and don't want to jeopardize their careers over this matter. Also my 5 year old attends school there and my baby will attend school there someday and, unfortunately, I think many people are not kind and objective enough to separate the action of parents from those of the children. Somewhat more selfishly, I think I would like to be a librarian (though I don't know how I'd fund tuition since we'll have to pay for our daughters' tuitions), and I like what little experience I'm getting. The librarian said that's how she became a librarian too. I think it would be easy for them just to say that it's not working out and that from now on, people can't bring babies or small children with them to volunteer.

I agree that it sets a bad precedent for telling women where they are allowed to nurse - where would it stop? Would they extend this policy to family events? PTA meetings? Field trips?

Wish I could be a trailblazer and clear the way for other nursing mothers, but guess I'll take the path of least complication for my children and to be able to keep volunteering there.

I hope that if the issue comes up again, the Principal and Vice Principal will rethink their position, and not just think that, since they were able to easily shunt one mother off to nurse elsewhere, that is what works well and should be continued. That would stink. :bang

Okay.
I swear up down left and center I am not trying to cause grief or tick people off.

I am a teacher in middle school and a low supply mamma who feeds donor milk and thinks BF is the ultimate food.

But... what if the children who would see you nursing.. have been raised that breasts are sexual and private and you are feeding your babe? And they dont know that breasts are food sources for babies and children.

if they are watching you nurse and the CHILDREN feel awkward about it? I dont care about the grown ups-they should know better.

My child knows bf is normal and expected (as is pumping) but not all other children do so if they feel uncomfortable - then is it ok?

Im not trying to anger anyone.. I dont know the right answer

But... what if the children who would see you nursing.. have been raised that breasts are sexual and private and you are feeding your babe? And they dont know that breasts are food sources for babies and children.

if they are watching you nurse and the CHILDREN feel awkward about it? I dont care about the grown ups-they should know better.


I think that some level of education on the subject is the answer. It's not like sex-ed or anything. In fact, I think it would make sense to be part of a class learning about mammals. Something along the lines of how they feed their young, then throw in a bit about how people are able to do it too. Teaches the kids that it's perfectly normal & that that's what they're there for, without remotely approaching sexual discussions. Seems harmless enough to me and goes a long way towards normalizing breastfeeding in future generations.

I think that some level of education on the subject is the answer. It's not like sex-ed or anything. In fact, I think it would make sense to be part of a class learning about mammals. Something along the lines of how they feed their young, then throw in a bit about how people are able to do it too. Teaches the kids that it's perfectly normal & that that's what they're there for, without remotely approaching sexual discussions. Seems harmless enough to me and goes a long way towards normalizing breastfeeding in future generations.

I dont disagree at all with you. And for now the education is NOT there so the kids may not know that. If the kid hasnt been exposed to that as a part of their education - then how do they feel when they see a momma feeding their baby? It has to be jolting.

I guess I would say that if they do not want to budge and still relegate you to the office for breastfeeding, then maybe volunteering at the library is not the best place for you. Tell them that you would like to continue to volunteer, but remind them, that you are going to be nursing "on the job." Hopefully they will not lose a volunteer over it.

But I understand it is not the point - the point is they made you feel badly about BFing - well :hugs:!!! and good job for BFing!!!

I dont disagree at all with you. And for now the education is NOT there so the kids may not know that. If the kid hasnt been exposed to that as a part of their education - then how do they feel when they see a momma feeding their baby? It has to be jolting.

No, it doesn't have to be. IME and those reported here, most children are curious and do not react as if you told them the truth about Santa. Really, it is the reaction of the adults that will influence the children.

I'd go nurse in the principles office and recite 1001 breastfeeding facts :p.

But... what if the children who would see you nursing.. have been raised that breasts are sexual and private and you are feeding your babe? And they dont know that breasts are food sources for babies and children.

if they are watching you nurse and the CHILDREN feel awkward about it? I dont care about the grown ups-they should know better.


I had only ever seen one woman breast feed pre pregnancy when I was around 4th or 5th grade and that was enough to normalize breast feeding for me. ONE WOMAN. I saw it, and it clicked, you know I never really thought about what was in bottles.. I guess the one woman always stuck out. :lol

I was breast feeding while outside my house, we live on a Cul-de-sac with three foreclosed houses so not many people. Well two kids walked by looked like lower middle school/upper elementary one of the boys yelled and said "You're disgusting, What are you doing to your baby?!" I said/sorta yelled loud enough for him to hear back.. "This is how you feed babies, go ask your mother about it and will explain" and needless to say the boy next to him yelled sorry on his behalf and I could hear faintly boy number two calling him stupid and saying thats how babies are fed and how is aunt feeds his cousin. :thumb

I think children SHOULD see it. And since she is in a library lead them to section on mammals! xD! And honestly since younger kids have younger siblings a lot are exposed to Breast feeding, even if its their mother only trying a few times. Even if its not EVERY kid,.. well when they go back to class to talk about what they saw, I'm sure at least one child will be like,... Thats how my mom feeds my sister/brother. Maybe the teacher would hear and then would come the lesson on mammals! :D

No, it doesn't have to be. IME and those reported here, most children are curious and do not react as if you told them the truth about Santa. Really, it is the reaction of the adults that will influence the children.

I'd go nurse in the principles office and recite 1001 breastfeeding facts :p.

For sure!

Quote them all!

- and remind him/her to schedule prep time for teachers who come back to work after 6 weeks so that it is conducive to breastfeeding :p