[Princessenoire]

A question for you guys:<br><br>
Background Info:<br>
I (and my husband) have recently decided that I will apply to law school this coming year. In order to do this, I need to take the LSAT. This isn't a big deal (took it before but my scores are invalid now because they're past the three year mark). The big deal lies in that my daughter, Miriam, is six months old and still exclusively breastfed (no solids). She refuses all bottles and is "eh" with cups. I need to take the test in June (the 11th, specifically).<br><br>
My Question:<br>
Has anyone ever attempted to get accommodated testing in order to take their baby in with them to the test? It is accepted practice for persons to have testing alone (I of course wouldn't bring a baby into general testing) and/or with extended time (nice because of distraction but I'm willing to work without it if I need to), so I certainly wouldn't be asking for anything that hasn't been given before. On the other hand, I'm not sure how to go about getting this. In order to get accommodated testing, I believe I need to declare as a disability but...it's not, really. Is breastfeeding covered under ADA? Any suggestions or places to check out?<br><br>
As a note, by the time I start law school she will be well over a year and certainly capable of drinking from a cup and/or eating solids. That, or I just won't go. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
EDIT: I think I'll be able to do it, esp since I have a friend who is willing to wet nurse for me if needed. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[MiaPia]

Isn't the test only like 4 hours long? How often is she nursing now? Is it possible to have someone come with you and wait with your DD in another area, then you can nurse her during the break? Or since it's still over a month away, perhaps you could work with her (or preferably have someone else work with her) on taking a cup during that time?<br><br>
I have no idea on whether they would accomodate you for nursing though, and I really don't think breast-feeding is covered under the ADA.<br><br>
Good luck though! How exciting that you've decided to follow this career path!

 

[Princessenoire]

The test is about 4-5 hours, yes, but we still nurse on cue and the cues don't come in a specific pattern. I'd be willing to have someone come with me, but that'd likely still involve some accommodation because I'd have to get up *and* be able to talk with someone else during the test, which generally aren't allowed. Of course I'll be working with her until then, but I want to go ahead and plan because I'm not willing to give formula or let her just "deal", ya know? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Evergreen]

I will be doing the same thing, isn't that funny!<br><br>
My daughter does take a bottle of pumped milk, though, so I have no real advice, besides maybe try a cup (not sippy) of pumped milk with your dh's help.<br><br>
basically, I just wanted to say good luck. Most test sites are not very accomodating at all (for anything), at least that is how it was when I took the GRE.

 

[Evergreen]

OH! Are you taking the June LSATS?<br><br>
Can you push it til the OCtober ones? Your baby may be more ready for solids then.

 

[maybemom05]

Congrats on your planned return to school - that sounds wonderful!!<br><br>
As far as breastfeeding during the test goes, if I were you, I'd call the test center. Or even better, walk in and ask someone if that's a possibility. If that doesn't work, you can call the folks to administer the exam. I would bet that this question has been asked before.<br><br>
I've never taken the LSAT, but just to warn you, I had to take some NASD licensing exams when my little guy was just 4 weeks old, and I wasn't able to get ANY kind of accomodation. I wasn't even able to nurse my kiddo outside the room because it would have involved interacting with my husband. I was totally PO'd, but there wasn't much I could do about it. Fortunately, the tests were short, and I read fast, so it worked out okay.<br><br>
On the other hand, when my SIL had to take her medical boards, the test administrators were great. She called and spoke to them ahead of time and explained the situation. The test was being given in a hotel ballroom. The administrators aranged for a hotel room for my SIL to use during the exam days (I think there were 2 or 3 days of testing). My BIL could come and go at will with the baby, but they had a home base where she could nurse, or pump, in comfort.<br><br>
Good luck to you!!

 

[Beppie]

Well, my baby wasn't 6 mos old, but I actually took the Bar Exam (law) last summer (2 days of testing!) and my 12 month old was still exclusively nursing. My mom came to town, though, and dd LOVES grandma, so my mom was enough of a distraction (a fun one for her), and during lunch time (on both days) they brought her by for me to nurse her. I was REALLY worried about it in advance, since dd is SO ATTACHED to me and my bbs (in a good way). But I was so pleasantly surprised, she almost didn't care for nursing when they brought her by, she just wanted to be with her grandparents! She nursed a little bit to keep me from being engorged, but that was it.<br><br>
I imagine that for 4 hours your dc will be fine. It's not that long, she'll make it, just try to have a care-giver there who your child is really comfortable with, and have available distractions. I imagine she'll be hungry when you get back, but it's not a terribly long time to wait. Maybe just have some pumped milk available so that if she's desparate she at least won't go hungry?

 

[tangomoon]

A friend did her teaching exams when her little one was just a few months old. She nursed DD right before going in to the exam, then grandma took care of the baby and had her there in the parking lot as soon as she was through with the first section (approx 3 hours long) so that she could nurse again right away. Then they did the same thing with the afternoon session.<br>
That way they didn't have to have any travel time after/before nursing.<br><br>
Good luck figuring it out!

 

[socalfelicity2]

Good luck! I don't have a whole lot of advice, except to say--<br><br>
I took the CA Bar Exam at 9 months pregnant (39 weeks) and got a small accomodation for the exam. I was allowed to bring a cell phone to the exam to call my DH if I went into labor (I gave it to the proctor), and I was also allowed 30 minutes extra per day for bathroom breaks (the exam is 8 hours/day with one short lunch break). I had to have a doctor's note explaining why I needed the accomodation.<br><br>
So, perhaps you could go that route and have your pediatrician write a note about why you need to breastfeed your child, since most mainstream people would really not understand why a baby can't take a bottle.

 

[socalfelicity2]

Also wanted to add that admissions committees can see if you take an accomodation on the LSAT and even though they're not supposed to discount scores based on that, some (anectdotally) may anyway- at least that's what I've heard. So...yea...I don't think they'd discount for, say, a blind person getting an accomodation, but a bf'er...eh...maybe.

 

[momtoalex]

that's why i am taking it in september! i decided that it was not worth the fight/stress for me or ds... good luck to you!

 

[Princessenoire]

socalfelicity2:<br>
Thanks for your advice. I've already been in contact with the admissions office and they're aware of the situation, so I don't think it will be much a problem with them. By the time I start school there, Miriam will be better able to handle being apart, I'm sure. She may be okay by LSAT time, but I want to be prepared in case. I'd be perfectly willing to do as you did and give a cell phone to the proctor in order to a text maybe that she needs to be nursed. Thanks again. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
momtoslex:<br>
The situation as it is, I really need to take it in June, so waiting really isn't an option right now. Really, I think she'll be able to do it, I hope.

 

[lurve]

no real advice, except a friendly word of advice (and please take in mind that i am a lawyer<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> ) - think twice about becoming a lawyer. most are jerks. it's hard to get a family-friendly job. hourly billing is all lies and will kill your soul. the debt kills you and the only place with decent hours is the government but with what they pay you, you can't pay off the debt! alright, my soapbox is put away. now good luck to you!!

 

[Princessenoire]

Lurve:<br>
Thank you for your advice. I've actually thought about this for a while. Heck, I even went to school and taught but I keep getting pulled back. My goal, actually, is to work with the gov't (we're Navy so a private practive isn't a good idea for a while at least) and, fortunately, my husband's job is such that we could afford that. My plan (ideally, of course) is to eventually work in advocacy, but I'm not sure whether that will happen. We also have a lot of family lawyers on both sides, so there's the possibility of me working in the family practice some, once we settle down. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">