How do you have a nurse in?

[carol5]

I live in California and was asked (illegally) to cover up or leave a restaurant for NIP. I called later to talk to the manager and was treated very, very rudely and told that they would not serve me if I came back. I never once raised my voice to anyone (but the waitress sure did when she told me to leave) and I was very discreet while nursing. I would love to have a nurse in and educate this business about the law and make them follow it. If anyone has any advice, I would sure appreciate it.
Thanks.

[Chandar]

I am so sorry this happened to you mama! :

A few ?s first....

Was this a privately owned or coporate/chain restaraunt?
If it is privately owned I would talk to the owner. Coporate I would call the DM, or headquarters.

Are you willing to share the name of the place publicly. There are hundreds of mamas who are not in your location who would be willing to write letters, make phone calls etc...

Did you educate the manager with the law? I would provide the location with a copy of CA law.
http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/Bills11.html

Nurse ins are very effective when planned well. Where in CA are you?

[aidansmom05]

I don't know anything about forming a nurse in but I can't believe it.

Sorry mama and your little nursling!

[carol5]

The restaurant is Rockwell's Cafe and Bakery in Villa Park, California. It is privately owned. When I called and spoke to the manager she told me that she was the waitress that had waited on me. I asked to speak to the owner but she said that he was aware of the situation and he didn't want to speak to me and then she hung up on me! I want this place to know that they broke the law and I want them to stop! An apology would be nice too

[Fi.]

Ugh, I recieved extremely poor service at a restaurant (*coughSMOKEY BONEScough*) in September because of NIP and they did nothing about it, I'm actually going to write again (in my expirience writing works better than calling but if I get nothing this time I'm calling) tonight. I'd LOVE to have a nurse in there, I just don't know any lactating moms

[Chandar]

Do you know other bf moms in your area, or supporters for that matter? Where is Villa Park?

I think it is great you are willing to educate them! I would call at a different time of day and try to contact the owner personally. I would also bring them a copy of the law.

Write down everything that happened that day. Was anyone else with you that can back you up?

Call the media! Newspapers, TV, radio, etc... use the words dicrimination and illegal together! Hot words will get their attention. Once the media is in on this the business is way more likely to talk/apologize.

To organize a Nurse-In you need:

1. Supporters. a network to get the word out to as many people as possible. Mothering is GREAT for that!

2. A plan. Do you plan to quietly protest inside the establishment with no real organization? Or do you want more of a rally of support. For the bigger event, you will need to check with your city on laws and such for protesting, and check the property lines of the business. They can have you removed from their property usually, but if you have a permit, and are on public property, then you are pretty much ok. If you do not have hundreds of people, then a permit might not be needed.

3. Media. You should get your story out there1 Educate them as to the law in CA. What the restaraunt did wrong, and how they ere in violation. What you expect from them.

4. Clear parameters of what you expect from the establishment. An apology, a written policy to train employees on dealing with breastfeeding, etc...

HTH mama lmk if you need anything else.

[Janice in Canada]

All the above is great information about having a nurse-in.

HOWEVER.....

where a LAW exists (as in California) it really shouldn't be neccessary to be doing nurse-ins.

Since when do aggrieved parties have to make their own efforts, to shame (through a nurse-in) the other party, to make them comply with the law?

This is what has always perplexed me about these situations - there should be some other party (the police, the public health authority, etc) that will step in, investigate and handle complaints, and levy fines or other penalties.

It shouldn't be the mom. That is crazy. I see that the New Jersey law, that we discussed here recently, places the responsibility on the public health authority to handle compliants.

I would advise that you contact a CA breastfeeding coalition for advice, prior to staging the nurse-in. You could try the Breastfeeding Task Force for LA,
http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/
or
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
http://www.breastfeeding.org/

I believe both of these groups have paid staff, and would have access to lawyers.

I'm not against nurse-ins, and if it comes to that, that needs to be done. But really, I have a problem that even if there was a law in place, that moms would have to make the effort of holding nurse-ins to enforce it. That is not right.

Janice

[Chandar]

Great info from Janice!

I see nurse-ins also as a way to let the business know that other potential customers were made aware of their behavior, and therefore they have hurt their business. Like a few hour long obvious boycott. Not only would it inform nursing moms and thier supporters it will inform the customers from that day, and with media involved the entire community will have the knowledge. Nurse-ins are imo the last step to take after you have exhausted the other means of communicating with them. Keep us updated mama.

[thepoet]

we are actually discussing this right now at http://mommychats.com.

Its our weekly breastfeedingisnormal.org advocacy chat, and this is the hot topic of the moment!

Come and join us!

[ChichosMama]

Im in yorba linda. I may need to take a visit.
I would mos'def participate in a nurse-in!

[carol5]

Thanks for all the great advice. I will keep you posted.