http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040713/NEWS08/407130356/1001/NEWS

"Nursing mom asked to leave

The restaurant's owner sponsored a wet T-shirt contest, but says breast-feeding offends.

By MARK QUINER
REGISTER CORRESPONDENT
July 13, 2004



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West Branch, Ia. - A restaurant owner who held a wet T-shirt contest at his business this summer relegates women to the restroom who need to breast-feed their children.

"Their idea of what is appropriate is messed up," said Amy Schoon, who earlier this month was asked by a manager of The Hoover House Restaurant in West Branch to nurse her 8-month-old son in the restroom, cover herself more or leave.

Schoon, who said she was properly covered, opted to leave the restaurant. "That's a foul thought - that somebody would be ordered to the bathroom to eat."

Schoon said she frequently nurses her son in public and has never been asked to leave a public place while she's feeding him. Iowa law permits women to breast-feed in public.

Carl Nelson, The Hoover House owner, defended the manager's actions, saying it's inappropriate for women to nurse their children in a restaurant.

"You could tell (customers) were offended," Nelson said.

He said The Hoover House doesn't prohibit women from breast-feeding in the restaurant but wants them well-covered.

Nelson said he sees nothing contradictory about discouraging breast-feeding in his restaurant, yet sponsoring wet T-shirt contests, in which pitchers of water are poured on women wearing skimpy or see-through T-shirts and no bras.

"It's a different atmosphere," Nelson said of the contests. He said the contests are appropriate because customers come specifically to watch the event while patrons dining in the restaurant were not expecting to see a woman nursing her child."

DUH! This man needs some education!

someone needs to key that guy's car.

Maybe a Breast Feeding contest in his establishment? :rolleyes:

OH NO, this guy deserves better than that!

how about a buncha lactating mamas squirting the guy's car!

yeah, that's it-just before KEYING his car.

:joker:

let those customers who weren't there to see it close their eyes or look elsewhere... please, if I walk around naked and people don't want to see it (and no one would believe me lol) then it's their own fault if they look.

I'm MAD! I'll write a letter, but too far away to do anything else...

The address I found is 102 W Main St, West Branch, IA 52358, and that is the address I will be using to send them a letter! How awful. I for one would not have left, but understand not all woman are up for that type of confrontation. They are lucky I am not closer. I'd go and tandem in the restraunt! (Not really, cuz that wouldn't help, but it makes me feel better to think about doing it!!)

Amy

education *sounds* good in theory, but what this guy needs is a good, old fashioned BOOTY STOMP.

this is just mo, of course ;)

i say we locate the geographically closest lactating mama & send her on her way with a hand ready to express & a nice sharp KEY.

As long as we work on his education some....I agree with a good ol' booty stomping!! Maybe we could just wack him (several times) with the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding or something similar?? Hee hee!


You crack me up Kas!

Originally posted by CincoDeMama
education *sounds* good in theory, but what this guy needs is a good, old fashioned BOOTY STOMP.

this is just mo, of course ;)

i say we locate the geographically closest lactating mama & send her on her way with a hand ready to express & a nice sharp KEY.

Okay...that's probably me (unless there are some Illinois mamas that are closer...it's about a 1.5hr drive for me). Oh duh, I am not lactating though!

I edited because I think West Branch is actually east (eastern Iowa, not western) of me...lol!

It's south of Iowa City...I know there are quite a few Eastern Iowa mamas on the Mothering boards! I might post this over there...lol!

Someone needs to organize a nurse-in during the next wet Tshirt contest.

I don't get motivated by this topic easliy, but this case has gotten my blood boiling! I only wish I had a nursling.

Iowa isn't that far from Illinois. :p

WooHoo!! The mamas here in Iowa that post at MDC are having a nurse in!

Nurse-in in West Branch on Sat. the 17th, 6pm. There will be an article about it in the Press Citizen tomorrow.

6pm...LOL! That's when everyone EATS supper around here! Hehehe!

Kas...no mention of keys...sorry!

omg-they should all WEAR WHITE TSHIRTS TO THE NURSE IN-just to get their point accross!

YAHOOOO!!

GO MAMAS GO!!!

I'll be rooting for ya. (Get it...rooting...)

Here's the article about the Nurse-In:

http://www.press-citizen.com/news/071304mothers.htm

"Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Area mothers organize nurse-in

Event to educate others about breast-feeding

By Deidre Bello
Iowa City Press-Citizen


A group of new mothers plan to gather Saturday at a West Branch restaurant to educate people about a woman's right to breast-feed in public.

The "nurse-in" was organized in response to an incident that took place during the Fourth of July weekend.

"The group felt that it was important to educate, not only the restaurant owners but the public in general about the fact that it is lawful for mothers to nurse anywhere," said Karen Michaeli, 39, of Iowa City. "And not only that it's lawful but that it is something that is good and healthy for all of us."

Families of 13 new mothers have said they plan to have dinner at 6 p.m. at The Hoover House and, if necessary, the mothers will breast-feed their babies.

On July 3, Iowa City resident Amy Schoon, 32, visited the restaurant with her 8-month-old son, Henry, and her husband, Tim Schoon, 34, and brother-in-law, Mark Schoon, of St. Louis. Schoon said she was "discreetly" breast-feeding her son when a waitress and later The Hoover House co-owner, Janet Nelson, told her to continue in the bathroom or leave.

Carl Nelson, The Hoover House co-owner and Janet Nelson's husband, said Schoon was given three options: to cover up, continue in the bathroom or leave. He has said the family restaurant does not prohibit breast-feeding, but he prefers mothers cover up with a blanket.

The Nelsons were not available for comment Monday.

Iowa Code states: "Notwithstanding any provisions of the law to the contrary, a woman may breast-feed the woman's own child in any public place where the woman's presence is otherwise authorized."

Michaeli said when people make it inconvenient or unacceptable for women to nurse, it creates an atmosphere in society that makes bottle feeding an easier option.

Added mother Angela Nelson, of North Liberty: "Our purpose is not to be confrontational or cause a scene. ... Breast-feeding should be seen as a mother feeding her child the best way she can. We're trying to educate people on how normal this is, that it is not anything that needs to be pointed out or singled out."

Le Leche, the American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization and other groups have launched campaigns to support breast-feeding for the nutritional benefits for babies.

Jody Davis, 29, a leader with La Leche League International, said members of the Iowa City La Leche chapter will not be involved in the nurse-in but are informing mothers of the demonstration if they ask.

Schoon said Monday she hasn't decided whether she would attend the nurse-in. Since the incident, she said, she was overwhelmed by all the support people have extended to her family, which reinforced her feeling she was doing the right thing.

Let us know what you think of this story..."

Ya for the nurse in :thumbsup:

I just don't get it, people go to a restaurant to eat, so why can't a baby eat :confused:
Some people just need to get a grip on life :rolleyes:

Originally posted by sweetpeasma
Ya for the nurse in :thumbsup:

I just don't get it, people go to a restaurant to eat, so why can't a baby eat :confused:
Some people just need to get a grip on life :rolleyes:

same as what she said! :thumbsup:

I'd like to see how a grown man or teenager would feel if told they had to wear a blanket over their head in order to eat because some people didn't like the way they ate!

ARGH!

Originally posted by fericito
same as what she said! :thumbsup:

I'd like to see how a grown man or teenager would feel if told they had to wear a blanket over their head in order to eat because some people didn't like the way they ate!

ARGH!

Ditto and I'd LOVE to throw a blanket over my brother's head while he wolfs down his dinner...but he's on the other side--"geez sis, can you cover that up a little?" is typical comment. This from the 18 yo who nursed for over 2 yrs as an infant :o

Wow - that should be interesting. I am wondering if he will try to refuse the right to serve them -- don't many restaurants have such a sign/policy. But then if he refuses based on the fact that they're breastfeeding, he could get into trouble.

BTW, I decided to find my state law about breastfeeding to carry it with me in case I am ever confronted about nursing in public.

You can find yours here: http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawBills.html

Darn! That's about 2.5 hrs from here and it's my dd2's bday. Oh and also the fact I'm not lactating but I could get on a good hormonal pg rage if they tried kicking anyone out for nursing. :)

I'm just glad that the mamas from Iowa City/ (MDC) Mothering are going. Iowa City is more "hippy" and AP. But really it's just so odd that this is happening here...truly Iowans are really laid back and it's a "to each his own" kinda attitude around here.

My neighbor the other day (who's seen me nursing Lucy almost as much as my husband has) made the comment the other day that "people have muscles in their eyes so they can look away if they don't want to see it!" Hooray for the nurse-in mamas! Those restaurant owners obviously didn't know with whom they were dealing:D .

:mad: Man,I wish I lived there! I would love to go to a nurse-in!