Another breastfeeding in public "issue"

[RachelC]

Thought I would share this all with you... it's in my area 


Dear Fellow Breastfeeding Advocates,

I would like to share the experience that I had at the
Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing PA today. My husband and I took our
2-year-old daughter and 6 month-old son out for a day of shopping and
errands. While at the mall, my son became hungry. I found a bench
near an indoor tree and parked my stroller directly in front of me.
As discretely as possible I began nursing my son. After about 10
minutes or so I was interrupted by a security guard, who asked me if I
could put a blanket over my son and cover up better. I informed him
that I did not have a blanket nor would I like him to get me one and
also that I had no breast exposed anyway. He began to speak again, at
which point my husband informed him that we were not interested in
this conversation and that we were discretely trying to feed our son
in a public place. His retort that this was private property and that
there were rules and he could ask us to leave and ban us from the
mall. My husband reminded him that this was private property that is
open to the public and that people have rights in public areas. He
threatened to call the police to have us removed and my husband told
him that that is what he should do if he felt that to be necessary.
At that point he walked away.

Moments later we were confronted by another security guard. I
immediately told her that I had no intention on listening to what she
had to say. My husband told her that she had to back away from my son
and I and speak with him further down the hall. While I continued to
feed my son, my husband dealt with this person. She asked why they
couldn't provide me with a blanket or buy me a new one. My husband
explained to her that we weren't going to use a dirty blanket or use a
new one that hadn't been laundered. At this point the first security
guard came back to get involved. He asked why I couldn't move the
breastfeeding into a more private location like the bathroom. My
husband asked him if he liked to eat on a toilet seat in a public
bathroom. The security guard replied that I didn't have to sit on a
toilet. My husband asked where should she sit, on the floor. The
security guard replied that I could stand in the bathroom. My husband
laughed and said "obviously you've never breastfed." Then the
security guard suggested I go out to my car to breastfeed. IT WAS 30o
OUTSIDE!!!!!! My husband said that although one person complained
about seeing me breastfeed, it didn't seem as if anyone else had
noticed . But now due to this argument everyone in the area was
staring. During this interaction I was enraged by the suggestion of
going into a bathroom to breastfeed, that I took it upon myself to
draw more attention by yelling "I REFUSE TO FEED MY BABY IN A
BATHROOM" over and over. The security guards brought up the police
again in an attempt to scare us into compliance. My husband informed
them again that they would have to call the police if they wanted us
to leave before my son was finished his meal. The security guard gave
up and stated that if he got one more complaint he was definitely
calling the cops. My husband said that that is what they were going
to have to do. My s on then continued and finished his meal. After
we returned our purchases and explained to the store associate why we
were never going to return to this store or this mall again we went
home.

Upon reviewing the Mall's rules and regulations on their web site we
noted that there was no official written rule prohibiting
breastfeeding in the mall.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and we would love to
be contacted by you to see if there is any action, we as concerned
parents would like to take regarding this incident.

Sincerely,
Leigh Bellini

Taken from http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=619642

Here is a place for people to leave feedback about breastfeeding in public from a local news station:

http://www.nbc10.com/more/index.html?dl_trayclick

[binxyboo]

That is pretty darn sad

I am so glad the parents held their own though.

[RachelC]

Yeah, and I have to say I am quite impressed with Dad 

[binxyboo]

I am pretty sure my DH would be the same. Thankfully, the issue never came up!

[rooby-rooby-roo]

Very impressed with them for holding their own, i know my dh would be like that too. He is pretty pro BF now - lol!!

[Erin M]

I wish they would have called the cops who could have informed the stupid security guards that it was the woman's legal right to breastfeed her son.   

[Mortish]

That is just terrible...I would definitely never go back to that Mall....

[binxyboo]

That is just terrible...I would definitely never go back to that Mall....

I would, and I'd bring my breastfeeding buddies with me!

[Aly Mac]

How terrible!!! Good on DH for standing his ground. Would have loved the police to come as I'm sure that the mall would not have a leg to stand on. 

I have a male friend that I can't BF in front of (he's actually my DH BIL and our neighbour!) as he is not comfortable with it.  Some people can't seem to differentiate between the sexual aspect and the feeding aspect of breasts.... very sad.

[Samuel's mum]

I think the DH sounds like a star. I also think some security guards have either too much time on their homes or bizarre priorities. Sadly rules vary enormously e.g. state to state and country to country. It's not always a legal right for a mother to feed in public. In the UK right now it is in Scotland but mothers have no protection against idiots in England and Wales.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

It INFURIATES ME!!    I would want to go back with as many breastfeeding women as I could find and just feed our kids all day long!!!!! 

[RachelC]

They are planning a nurse-in this weekend... I wish I wasn't so busy 

[xfionax]

I really cannot believe that this kind of thing actually happens. It's so ridiculous. I was never one to breastfeed in public myself and always expressed, but I would have no problem with anyone doing it in front of me if they felt comfortable with it. It's the kind of thing that no-one would really notice when you're just sitting quietly, getting on with it. So why should it offend anyone? I could understand it if a mum was sitting topless doing it, or was breastfeeding an older child, rather than an infant, but feeding a baby when he needs it should be allowed anywhere. It's just common sense.

I agree that the security guard just had too much time on his hands and got a bit too full of his own importance. Good for the couple for standing their ground.

[Duckie]

The mall that I go to has an area with 3 comfy couches and a curtain that is usually open that is specifically billed as a nursing area.  In addition, while they do have those very uncomfortable benches, they also have areas with armchairs, that is usually populated by elderly gentlemen napping while their wives are shopping.

Sigh.  Un-freaking-real.

[RachelC]

Sadly rules vary enormously e.g. state to state and country to country. It's not always a legal right for a mother to feed in public.

Well, apparently here in Pennsylvania, there are no laws protecting us... yet

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/breast50.htm

http://www.nbc10.com/health/11076859/detail.html

I can't wait to hear what the "investigation" reveals.  *sigh*