Breastfeeding flash mob goes national

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A major retailer became the target of an angry mother's wrath today.

It all started when one Texas mom said she was harassed for breast feeding in public. Her story went viral on Facebook, and today, moms demonstrated at stores in at least 28 states.

Noah Hickman got hungry as his mom Michelle shopped at a Target store in Webster, Texas. So, Mom covered herself with a blanket in the women's section and breastfed the 5 month old. Even though Target store policy allows that, she said employees were unaware, and gave her a hard time.

“I definitely am not going to go nurse my baby in a bathroom,” Hickman told reporters. “Would you like to eat your lunch in a bathroom sitting on a toilet in your mom's lap? No.”

More than 6,000 moms on Facebook felt the same way. So in a show of solidarity, they planned a "nurse-in" at Target stores across the country Wednesday. 22News checked with the Target stores in Hadley and Holyoke and were told nobody showed up there.

Massachusetts was one of last states to pass a law protecting public breastfeeding. Opinions are still divided.

“Well if they're covered up then it's not a problem, but if they're not covered it's a problem,” said Omar Colon of Springfield.

Andy Nocrasz of Ludlow felt similarly. “There’s a time and place for everything. I think they shoulddo it in private…but it's a free country.”

“If there's no place to do it then fine, go right ahead,” said Loretta Goldrick of Chicopee. “Just put a towel over you so it doesn't look so conspicuous.”

 

The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition issued the following response to 22News:

“Nearly every state in the US has a law protecting the rights of women to breastfeed in public. Massachusetts was one of the last states to pass such a law.

Breastfeeding is the physiologically normal way to feed infants. This is why every major medical organization recommends that infants get only breastmilk for the first 6 months of life, and continue to breastfeed, with solids added, for the first 1-2 years of life. Most women in the US don't even meet their own breastfeeding goals. Quitting breastfeeding early carries health risks for both mother and baby.

Nurse-in's are a great way to raise attention to the importance of allowing women to breastfeed in public. Usually, however, they only result in changing the policy in one store that is being protested. What we really need are better state and national policies to better support breastfeeding, including nursing in public. There is no federal law to protect women across the country, for example.

It would be worthwhile if women at nurse-ins could use that energy and experience to write letters to their state and federal legislators about this importance of laws to protect breastfeeding mothers.

Massachusetts General Law (chapter 11, section 221) states that a mother may breastfeed her child in any public place where the mother and her child may otherwise be lawfully present, with the exception of houses of worship or religious instruction. (No person or entity shall restrict, harass or penalize a mother" who is breastfeeding her child. A civil action may be brought by a mother subjected to such harassment and mothers can lodge a complain with the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General's office.)

Despite the law, Mass. Breastfeeding Coalition continues to hear of complaints by nursing mothers.”

Melissa Bartick, MD, MSc

Chair, Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition

 

In a statement issued today, Target said it is proud to support breast-feeding mothers and that women are welcome to breastfeed anywhere in the store, but the chain also "supports the use of fitting rooms" for the same purpose.