By Jennifer Antonik www.MommaTraumaBlog.com Normalizing breastfeeding has sadly become quite the task, even in 2013. Breastfeeding mothers are too often asked to leave or cover themselves when they nurse their child. When the breastfeeding community at large gets wind that another mom hasn’t been treated kindly, they immediately take action. As was the case recently when Jaielyn Belong, a Delaware teen mom, was told she could not pump breastmilk for her six-week old baby during school hours. Having reached over 40,000 hits on the original blogpost that broke the story late Tuesday evening and a facebook page in support of Belong with over 1,800 likes, it is clear to see there were at least a few moms upset with this situation. Belong’s story quickly reached local radio stations, newspapers, tv stations, Governor Jack Markell and even several national news outlets. By Wednesday afternoon, Dan Curry, the superintendent of Lake Forest School District, told a reporter for the News Journal that they will be giving her time and a private place to pump during school hours, according to Belong’s mother. Details are not available at this time. They are also working with local breastfeeding advocates to purchase a brand new, small refrigerator for faculty and teen moms to use for breast milk storage. Between the posts of support and questions on her fanpage and blog comments, many suggested legal action and a nurse-in as the next course of action, even after Curry turned their decision around. Local moms and breastfeeding advocates disagree with a nurse-in at this stage of development and say that, for now, they will not attend one as the school district is making good progress to rectify the situation. “In my opinion, Nurse-Ins don't help to normalize breastfeeding because it is an unusual event,” local mom Rose Spickes said. “We all want to work to promote breastfeeding in a way that is supportive and positive for all involved.” Heather Felker, local La Leche League leader, has been involved in Belong’s situation from the start and believes this situation could have a positive ending without hosting a nurse-in. “Delaware has an amazing breastfeeding community. We have received wonderful support from media outlets, LLL, the Delaware Breastfeeding Coalition, as well as individual mothers,” she said. “We are in continued conversations with the family and the school to help facilitate a smooth transition for the student and hopefully provide some continuing lactation education. Our hope is to leave a positive impression for everyone involved, and to help normalize breastfeeding, rather than sensationalize it.” Sensational is exactly how some view nurse-ins, and not in a good way. When a mom announces a breastfeeding related human rights offense, you can almost always guarantee an immediate response by the community. There will be a lot of blog posts, e-mails to the offending person or group, a facebook page created in support of that mom with a lot of angry women, usually a lot of screen shots of comments made back and forth online and probably a nurse-in. (And of course a facebook page for the nurse-in, an event page and a second event page for the virtual nurse-in for the thousands of mothers who cannot fly in for that one event). By then, you can guarantee yourself some national, if not global, media coverage. Most nurse-ins are arranged and held before the offending party has an opportunity to rectify their wrong-doing. On the contrary, Felker said, “In order for a nurse in to be an effective tool for change, we have to give the offending company or organization a chance to remedy the situation. Rushing in makes it appear that the nurse in is more important than the end result. What exactly is a nurse-in? A nurse-in is a staged protest at the location the offense occurred, or immediately surrounded that area if protesters are not allowed. It is usually attended by local breastfeeding moms and their families, advocates, professionals in the birth and breastfeeding professions and media. Most importantly, the mothers attending nurse their children during this event. Participants often bring signs in support of breastfeeding and to protest the specific offense involved. A lot of pictures will be taken to document the event, and possibly videos recorded as well. They will be immediately uploaded to Facebook, Twitter and local media to alert everyone the protest is underway. The goal of a nurse-in is to be powerful in numbers while normalizing breastfeeding. Those in favor of nurse-ins say they are effective at creating change. Advocates who oppose nurse-ins, such as local mom Emma Reddick, say they can overwhelm those to which the event is directed. “It can put them on an automatic defensive. They see us as an angry mob, rather than a group of educated women trying to elicit positive change,” she said. Moms and advocates local to Belong spent an entire day eliciting e-mails, sending her story to media outlets and speaking with the district directly to create a positive result for this rights issue, as did many across the country. Holli Freeland, local mom, agrees with this approach. “A nurse in should NEVER be your first line of defense. Communication always effects change faster than militancy,” she said. “Talk your face off. If that doesn't work, then whip out the boobies and stage your nurse in. Ask for what you want and see if they give it to you.” To view the letter sent to the Lake Forest School District by the Breastfeeding Coalition of Delaware, click here.
4 Comments
1/31/2013 01:08:49 pm
There is no link on your "click here"
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1/31/2013 01:16:59 pm
Strange! Worked for me. Refresh the page though, I added the links on the bottom.
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As an avid Breastfeeder myself, I was very upset to hear about this story. You wouldn't think that breastfeeding mothers would have to go through SO much trouble just to feed their little babies. I am happy to see your thoughts on this and really love your blog! Keep up the good work!
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