The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

Applebee's nurse-in and Birth, the play.

According to the protest organizers, there were actions at at least 97 Applebee's in 43 states on Saturday, and it appears that there were over 1,000 particpants in total.  You can see many more pictures and news articles at the Yahoo group set up to organize the protests.

I had a great time our little nurse-in at the Applebee's in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  There were just six of us (including one dad, two kids), but we had a very good chat with the assistant manager.

Leah, whose baby is pictured to the right, had talked with the manager over the phone before the nurse-in, and he said that their restaurant wouldn't ask a nursing mother to cover up.  He said that if they ever got a complaint from other patrons they'd offer to reseat the people who complained.  Another representative of Applebee's said the same thing in an interview in our local paper.  I thought that this might be due to the fact that (as we learned) he's the father of a breastfed baby.  But this statement in a news report from Applebee's makes me think that they have have had a change of heart because of the protests:

Our goal as restaurant operators is to provide a great dining experience for all our guests. This situation has provided an opportunity for us to work with our associates to ensure we're making nursing mothers feel welcome....we will also accommodate other guest who would be more comfortable moving to another area of the restaurant. [Thanks to Angela for this link.]

Later that day I saw a local production of the play, Birth, which is part of a larger movement to improve maternity care.  It was devastating and uplifting, and powerful indictment of the state of birth in the U.S. 

The play began with some of the characters talking about watching their dogs birth their puppies.  They talk about knowing how important it is to leave the mother dog in peace during the labor and not intervene.  And one of them says something like, "everyone knows not to take a newborn puppy away from its mother."

After the play there was a panel discussion, and one of audience members talked about how surprised she was to find, twelve years after having her own son, that things haven't really changed.  I mumbled to the friend sitting next to me, "Actually, it's gotten worse."  I'll get back to this topic another time...

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Nationwide nurse-ins at Applebee's.

Nurse-ins are planned at Applebee's Restaurant locations around the country on Saturday, September 8th at 12 noon in response to an incident in which mother Brooke Ryan was told to cover up while nursing her child.  This was in violation of Kentucky law, which protects the right of mothers to nurse their babies in public.

The franchise operating Applebee's in central Kentucky has added quite a bit of fuel to the fire by suggesting that the solution to this 'problem' is to keep blankets stocked at their restaurants which nursing mothers could use to cover themselves.  They've also accused the mother, who was carrying a card with the statute protecting her right to nurse in public, of having an "agenda."  They've since issued a statement defending their actions as "consistent with creating a pleasant dining experience for all our guests."

According to Moms Rising, Senator Tom Buford, who sponsored the Kentucky law protecting nursing in public, has pledged to attend one of the nurse-ins, and suggested the following for a protest sign:  "Small children are not allowed to eat in this restaurant."

Here are some links to help you find a nurse-in near you, connect with others, and have a laugh at the absurdity of it all:

• Yahoo Group for organizing the nurse-ins
• Google Map showing the nurse-in locations (thanks Angela!)
• The Thomas and King franchise email list, and Applebee's email comment form
• Cartoon from Hathor the Cow Goddess on the incident

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Wordless Wednesday: First day of preschool

Motherwear model Natasha, on nursing her toddler.

One of the models in this fall's Motherwear catalog should look familiar.  Natasha's been in the last three catalogs with her son Nikita Cash. 

Earlier this year I interviewed Natasha about her breastfeeding her then 6 1/2 month old.  To hear what she had to say about breastfeeding and how she balances nursing and working, check out this post.

I recently checked in again with Natasha to find out what breastfeeding has been like with her now 14 month old.  Here's what she had to say:

To continue breastfeeding was a choice which came naturally, and I am very happy I followed my instincts.  Cash has never been sick!  He is about to turn 14 months, so it has saved me a headache and numerous trips to the doctor.

What has it been like nursing a toddler? 

It's been wonderful!  He loves it.  No kidding, I think the first word out of his mouth was BOOBY!  I love it! When I get to travel, boob is the only thing which will keep him occupied for 3 hours on the plane :)  Challenges?  Hmmm.  It takes a lot of energy out of me, but on the other hand helps me stay in probably the best shape I have ever been in.  No gyms!

What has motivated you to keep breastfeeding?

The best motivation is knowing how beneficial it is for his health.  As a toddler he is very picky when it comes to solids, but I didn't have to worry as he gets the best nutrients with the breastmilk.  And as I said, he has never been sick, so I've got my proof and am going for a natural weaning.

Is there anyone who has helped support you as you continue to nurse?

Yes!  A lot of people!  Some friends of mine who stopped breasfeeding, who now wish they hadn't as their kids go through all kinds of health issues. My midwife nursed all four of her kids for a while, so she is definitely my role model.

Breastfeeding offers so many advantages, and if you think about it, that's how women were raising their kids back in the day, when there was no formula and an average sized family had 11 people. Everybody was much healthier!  It is also very beneficial for moms.  The chances of breast cancer are so much lower.  For those who want more info on benefits of breasfeeding, check out Dr. Sears' website.  There are some interesting articles on the topic there.

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Join the next carnival: Breastfeeding and Sleep

I once met a mother of twins, whose husband found her one night standing in the middle of their bedroom, patiently nursing...nothing.  Can you relate?

For our next carnival of breastfeeding, we're seeking submissions on anything related to breastfeeding and sleep, such as cosleeping, sleep deprivation, even sleep walking!  As always, we're looking for:

• Posts that are well written and grammatically correct
• Posts that are thoughtful and on topic
• Posts from blogs that are on topics that are of interest to readers of breastfeeding blogs (parenting, breastfeeding, etc.)

Submissions are due by September 11th, and can be emailed to me.  You can see examples of past carnival posts under the category "Carnivals of Breastfeeding." 

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