amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

~Heidi~ · 07-14-2004, 12:13 PM

The article was in the major state newspaper today.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/app...407140357/1001

"Women plan West Branch 'nurse-in'

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

July 14, 2004

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Thirteen mothers plan to eat at a West Branch restaurant and then nurse their babies in what they call "a nurse-in" to support a woman who was taken to task for breast-feeding her baby early this month.

Carl Nelson, owner of the Hoover House, said he will welcome the women when they arrive for dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The controversy started July 3 when Amy Schoon of Iowa City came to the restaurant with her 8-month-old son, Henry, her husband, Tim, and her brother-in-law, Mark Schoon.

Amy Schoon, 32, said she was breast-feeding Henry in the restaurant - which has held wet T-shirt contests before - when an employee and later Nelson's wife told her she was upsetting customers. Nelson's wife told Schoon she had to either feed her son in the restroom or leave the restaurant. Schoon's party decided to leave.

Her supporters plan the nurse-in to educate people about women's right to nurse in public. According to Iowa law, a woman may breast-feed her own child in any public place where the woman's presence would otherwise be legal."

And it was on the major news network last night! The mama that was denied the right to nurse her baby in public was on the news & nursing her baby too! The ads about the upcoming news were also showing her nursing!

WooHoo! Iowa is nearly all rural...so for this to be in the major newspaper and on the news period shows that you'd have to be living under a rock not to know about this here! Talk about education.

ElDucko · 07-14-2004, 12:42 PM

How cool!

~Heidi~ · 07-14-2004, 04:42 PM

Here's the info from the tv news. You'll notice the last bit about people didn't want to state they don't like bfing in public "ON CAMERA"! The mom below bfs her 3-yr old.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5437521/

"Public Breast Feeding Causing A Stir

By From WHO TV-13 News
WHO-TVWest Branch, July 14th, 2004 - The debate over breast feeding in public just heated up after an incident in Iowa. In West Branch, Iowa, the manager of the Hoover House Restaurant asked a nursing mother leave her table and go to bathroom to feed the baby. This same restaurant holds wet t-shirt contests.

Breast feeding, of course, has been around since the dawn of mankind, but in many ways, it's new to the modern world. It wasn't common for women to breastfeed in the past two generations, but with more and more women nursing today for the health benefits, this most natural act can clash with the public.

We spoke with some Iowans on their feelings about breast feeding in public. At Java Joe's in downtown Des Moines, many women feel comfortable breast feeding their babies over a cup of coffee. Usually, nobody has a problem. Quincy Robinson of Java Joe's says, "In here, no, because it happens frequently, but I'm sure in other places it does freak other people out."

Most nursing moms who feed their babies in public are used to the occasional disapproving stare. Lisa Loiola breast feeds her her youngest son, three-year-old Mark. She was confronted once by a stranger for nursing in public. Loiola says, "Most people just give a friendly smile and go on their way. I've only had one incident in the eight years between children."

Lisa is now a member of La Leche League, a support group for nursing mothers. She says, "When he was young, I did a lot of car nursing. One time, I was sitting in a Sam's bathroom and was nursing and realized this is not right for my child. This is not the place to be feeding my child."

Under Iowa law, women can breast feed in public, and employers must accomodate nursing moms in the workplace. The only other law in Iowa about breast feeding says nursing moms do not have to do jury duty.

We should also add that we talked with people on the street who said they don't think women should nurse in public, but no one felt comfortable saying that on camera."