Lactation Station- Offensive?

I went in the lactation station last year, at the same state fair. I thought it was awesome! I didn't feel like I was being herded away from the public, I felt like they were providing a nice comfy place to nurse and not have to sweat out in the sun. And all the freebies were great too- I even got a free sweatshirt last year, and a little breastmilk cooler.

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I just tried to "like" your post a la Facebook.

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And if your child is like mine nursing in the heat and sweat is not possible. He had to be comfortable to nurse when he was little. So this would be great for moms like that.

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ita

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i think of them like courtesy parking spaces for pregnant mamas. there were some days when i was nauseous and felt exhausted and those spaces were such a welcome site! and other days i was energized and parked at the back of the lot for more exercise. can you imagine someone saying "hey lady, you gotta park in those pregnant women parking spaces because i don't want to see you waddling all the way across the parking lot"?! for me, nursing/lactation stations are just the same.

eta: nak in dark = no caps

The Big E had one sponsored by LLL with a leader working there. At the time DS1 was a nutty toddler and it was nice to have a quiet, comfortable space to get him to nurse and relax after running around all day. I chatted with the LLL leader who applauded me nursing my 18 month old and while I was there a mother with a brand new baby came in looking really relieved to find a spot to get situated.
On the other hand I just went to the big local fair (Bolton, in MA) and the map showed a nursing/changing station. I was really hopeful given the Big E and there weren't really any benches around the rest of the fair or a place to change a diaper. It was pretty sad, a folding table with plastic wrap on it and two folding chairs. Bleck. There was a bench outside but I think that was a coincidence. So I changed DS2 inside and then made a point of nursing on the bench outside. It did seem much less like a nice way to accomodate nursing mothers and more of a go sit in this dirty tent in an uncomfortable chair.

So, OP here. Just wanted to share my experience with another Lactation Station.

OK, So 2 state fairs in one week. At they KY state fair there was a "Rock n Relax", hosted by a hospital- a place to go and nurse and also to change baby. There was a poster inside the area that had a bunch of illustrations on it, titled "Surprises while Nursing". It was pretty old but a couple of them were pretty offensive. There was a scene where a little girl sees her mommy nursing and says "my baby is hungry too!", and the mother looks disgruntled at the little girl.

In general this one was nothing like the other one. There were signs in all the bathrooms right above the changing stations that said "ATTN: Rock N Relax is located at aisle......"

I was changing my baby in the bathroom and a lady said to me, "You know we've set up a place for that..." and began to give me directions as though I wasnt welcome to change her in the bathroom.

I also NIP when I was a good hike away and I got several dirty looks and heard two people say (not to me, but about me) "You know, there is a place for that"

I felt like in this situation, the signs in the bathroom alerted everyone to an alternative place for mothers. This made people feel like it was a place we were supposed to go instead of a great place they were offering us

Two years ago I remember sitting in the Lactation Station all alone at the MN State Fair. Thousands of women and I'm the only one nursing?

I think they are a great idea. Benches are hard to come by at our fair and I appreciate the shade and cool breeze from the fans.

Looking forward to visiting the Lactation Station again this year

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Wow, that's so strange. In IN there were at least 2 women in there everytime I went. Im just gonna hope that in MN no one knew it was there and they were all NIP. I did see so many kids at the fair with bottles of formula/juice when they were nb. (i dont get out much....so I rarely see bottle fed babies )

One thing I found strange was that some of the other moms were using nursing covers inside the lactation station. I guess some people are uncomfortable even in front of other nursing moms. At one point I was the only woman (out of four) who was exposed and I felt kind of embarrassed that I didnt bring a cover.