It’s my right to nurse, or not

As I’ve mentioned thirty-five times once or twice, I’m starting to wean Courtney.  We’re on day 5ish and things are going ok.  I don’t think they’re great, I’m pretty sure she’s not getting enough formula, and that’s the most important part of her diet at this tender young age.  We are just cutting out the lunch time nursing to start, so I know she’s still getting enough milk in the morning and evening but it still worries me.  It doesn’t help that she’s sick and not eating well but it’s a work in progress.

Often times when I tell people I’m still nursing, they have a look of surprise on their face.  People are pretty shocked that I’d stick with it for this long.  Me too, honestly.  I’d never actually thought about how long I’d nurse but 9 months was probably not what I had in mind.  Did you know that 70% of women start breastfeeding out of the gate (hehe) but only 20% are still at it at the 6 month mark?  For such a highly developed nations (said with sarcasm), we have some of the worst nursing rates in the world which is interesting because the American Academy or Pediatrics says that of all the things we do in the first year, nursing is the most beneficial for the long term health of our child.  As a society we tend to frown on nursing in public.  Have you ever seen someone nursing in the mall or in a restaurant?  No, probably not.  I know that when it comes to nursing Courtney, I couldn’t whip my boob out in public, I’m just not comfortable with that.  Probably because I’m afraid I’d get arrested or thrown out.

The beauty though is that if I wanted to nurse in the mall, in a restaurant or at a baseball game, I can, it’s the law.  There are laws that protect women who chose to nurse in public.  In Georgia the law states:

• Breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and allows a mother to breastfeed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be.
• Allows employers to provide daily unpaid break time for a mother to express breast milk for her infant child. Employers are also required to make a reasonable effort to provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the workplace for this activity. The employer is not required to provide break time if to do so would unduly disrupt the workplace operations.

So here’s the craziest thing ever…  A woman (LaNisa Allen) in Ohio got fired from her job, at Totes/Isotoner, for taking breaks to pump her milk.  She claimed that Totes would allow her to pump at lunch, at 11, but that she needed to pump more often.  She was sore and her beasts were leaking.  I mean, if you’re sitting at your desk or working on the plant floor or even if you’re sitting in Starbucks and your boobs start to leak, you’re probably in need of some relief.  It’s  a visible dilemma, not like “I have cramps” and then you go home early for the day.  Who can prove cramps?  Totes/Isotoner claims she didn’t get fired for pumping but for taking unauthorized breaks.  The court ruled:

• Allen gave birth over five months prior to her termination from [Isotoner]. Pregnant [women] who give birth and choose not to breastfeed or pump their breasts do not continue to lactate for five months. Thus, Allen’s condition of lactating was not a condition relating to pregnancy but rather a condition related to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding discrimination does not constitute gender discrimination.

Huh?  Men can breastfeed too?  Really?  You mean for the 3 or 4 months that Courtney ate every 3 hours, Paul could have fed her too?  For real???  Damn, I could have gotten hours and hours of sleep.  Or maybe that’s only the case if we lived in Ohio.  Hmm, things to think about.

I’m disappointed in Totes/Isotoner.  For a company that employs something like 70% women, they should know better.  And for Ohio to put that in their decision?  Well, I’m glad I’m not a nursing mom in Ohio.  Or a nursing dad.