Update on Breastfeeding Saga

Since we were at the Y for our weekly Homeschool Group swim date the leader of the group got this on an e-mail from the Y aquatics director:

I also wanted to touch base with you about the incident this week when our guard spoke to one of your group about breastfeeding. I wanted to apologize on his behalf and assure you that we have taken steps to make all staff aware of our support of breastfeeding anywhere in the YMCA. I assume that, as a young man, he was personally uncomfortable. However, that does not reflect our facility's policy and he should have not approached the mother in any way. If you will, please pass on our support to your group

So I am glad for other moms that they will train their staff so this won't happen again to someone not as outspoken as I.

I also want to thank everyone for the support on this very important issue. Thanks for all the comments!

Don't Mess with my Lactivist Self

I have a pretty big outspoken mouth. I also graduated from Law School . I am a Certified Lactation Counselor. I have been nursing my children for 6 years this coming June having Tamdem nursed for at least 19 months.

Having said all that what would happen if I had been told that I had to stop nursing my child?Keep in mind I am in Minnesota where the Law specifically addresses nursing mothers and the right to nurse their child anywhere public or private where she and her child are allowed to be.

Minn. Stat. § 617.23
Indecent Exposure; Penalties(d) It is not a violation of the indecent exposure statute for a woman to breast feed.
Minn. Stat. § 145.9051998 Minn. ALS 407; 1998 Minn. Chapter Law 407; 1997 Minn. S.F. No. 3346
145.905 Location for Breast-FeedingA mother may breast?feed in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast-feeding.

Isn't the YMCA supposed to be family friendly??

This young male life guard had no idea who he was dealing with. He walks towards me and my nursling and out of his mouth comes the (for the lac of a better term) profanities. I answered between my teeth that what he was doing was against the Law . So he said he would call the manager after I told him that it was my right and I was protected by said Law.

Them comes this other male manager and a girl from the reception and they get close to me and my nursing 27 month old Gigi and starts:

"We are feeling uncomfortable..."

As I stopped him on his tracks with "discrimination" and "front page of the local newspaper" ( I have people!).

So after I was done with them they put their little tails between their legs and said they would check into bringing the information to their staff.

A few minutes later the girl comes back and apologizes profusely and says she talked with another manager who said they have the Law posted and that they are indeed a "Breastfeeding Friendly" institution.

I gracefully accepted the apologies and asked them to do a better job training their personnel.

They never saw the train coming......