This is why Massachusetts needs a NIP law.

This story from a Boston area newspaper was just emailed to me.  Got my blood boiling and I had to post it.

Dr. Melissa Tracy, a Brockton cardiologist, never thought breast-feeding her infant son while shopping would become controversial.

But it did Friday, as the 40-year-old Hingham mother was asked to stop feeding her son while shopping for birthday party supplies with her husband at iParty on Pleasant Street in South Weymouth, she said.

Tracy had responded to her 7-week-old son Tristan's cries of hunger by sitting down in the aisle to discreetly feed him, she said.

Within five minutes, the store manager, identified only as Dave, came up to Tracy, a mother of two.

“He said, 'You have to stop doing that. You can't do that here in the store. I don't think it would be good for children to see you,” Tracy said.

“I was shocked,” Tracy said. “I never felt so humiliated in my life. This man felt like I was doing something vulgar, or stealing. I was doing nothing wrong.

“I said, 'This is the most natural thing a woman can do for her child. This is what women do. This is not offensive. I am not doing anything offensive. I'm just sitting here nursing my son,” Tracy said.

Tracy said she then stopped nursing her baby, stood up, left the store and cried in the parking lot.

Note that no one complained - the store employee assumed that it would be bad for children to see breastfeeding.  And the mother said, “You could not see anything. Everything was covered.”

The mother later complained to the regional manager, who apologized and offered her a gift card, which she refused.  The regional manager said that the company “will make our managers aware that women might need to have some private space and to see how that can be accommodated.” 

To me, this is missing the point.  The mother was comfortable nursing in an aisle, and didn't need a private space.  I would be just as offended if someone tried to force me into a private space.  She should be able to feed her child anywhere a mother would feed a baby a bottle.

This is why we need a nursing in public law in Massachusetts.  My home state is one of only a handful that doesn't provide protection for nursing in public.  See the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition for information on how to weigh in on pending legislation, and this post for information on pending legislation in many states.  If you want to complain to iParty, here's their customer care email address.  I'm going to go do some deep breathing and see if Motherwear can offer the mom a gift card to replace the one she refused!

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Comments

[rachelwp]

WOW! This is an awful story. It's so sad to believe that these kinds of things still go on. However, I experience them even in my own family- they wanted me to nurse in the bathroom when I went to visit a family member in the hospital (I of course refused). Then, on a recent holiday, I started to feed my baby and EVERYONE (except hubby) left the room. I regularly get asked when I'm going to give it up. Women everywhere are still being discriminated for choosing the most obvious way to care for their baby . Sad!

[Leisa]

I feel lucky to live in Australia - these days the public are comparatively pro breastfeeding. I fed my 2 kids everywhere and the only reaction I ever got was supportive smiles from other women! There was a furore a couple of years ago when a politician breast fed in parliament and there was a chat show host who breastfed during an interview which hit the press a little while ago. The cultural differences are quite profound!

[Sinead]

Again, another shocking story illustrating extreme ignorance about breastfeeding. I'm so glad this lady did not accept the voucher - that was just adding insult to injury!
And I'm totally with you on the "private" area suggestion. It's sad and frustrating that people still think that we breastfeeding moms should be hidden away somewhere when we are simply nurturing our babies in the way nature intended...

[Tanya Lieberman]

Leisa,

Hooray! I've been hoping to hear from moms in Australia (and New Zealand!).

I've heard that the climate for nursing in public is much better there - thanks for confirming it. You also have such great maternity leave policies compared to the U.S.

Wish I could have seen the member of parliament nursing story...

Tanya

[Tanya Lieberman]

I had the chance to talk to Dr. Tracy today, and will post about it soon...

[RCM]

Good for her! I am glad she is fighting back. One family at a time making change across the country.

[rValley]

I would like to photograph Dr. Tracy for the Mother Culture Gallery also. These stories need a personal and self told platform that I can help bring to fruition through photographs.

Any help is appreciated!

Rachel

[globalmama]

I want everyone on this blog to know that iParty is full of it. I am an employee of iParty (who is now looking for other employment), all employees received an email today from Rick Stockellburg (one of the big guys) stating that "news reports are exaggerating the incident and that they have confidence in the intentions and sensitivity of our management in dealing with a situation like this" It went on to say that "the mother was in the middle of a narrow isle that was frequented by children" and on and on! I am a proud nursing mama and I am very upset. iParty is full of it! They have not heard the end of this one. By the way, I copied the email. I would love for everyone here to pass on the info that iParty is lying and does not support mamas, nursing or not!

[Leisa]

Here is a link to the politician nursing story:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200302/s793410.htm

Kirstie Marshall had only recently been elected and had her 11 day old baby was bought into parliament to feed - mother and baby were actually evicted because of a "no strangers in parliament" law (the baby classified as a stranger!)

There was quite a community backlash and the law has been changed to exclude breastfeeding mother's babies from the rule! Kirstie Marshall has been quoted as saying she would breastfeed in parliament again if she has another child (although she also says she found the whole experience upsetting, but is glad that it made way for a positive change).

[Tanya Lieberman]

Globalmama,

Would you forward that email to me at motherwearblog at gmail dot com? Thank you!

Tanya