Security Guard Demands Breastfeeding Baby and Mother Go To Private Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 1, 2009 --

August 1-7 is Worldwide Breastfeeding Awareness week. Hopefully, administrators at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia will take this opportunity to bring public awareness to their nursing policy. Mildred Musni would like for the hospital to place breastfeeding friendly signs in their waiting rooms as well, in response to her experience earlier this July. On July 5, 2009, a security guard insisted that she leave the emergency room while her 5 week old daughter was nursing. Musni objected, pointing out that if she were bottlefeeding, she would not be forced to move. The guard's rudeness almost led Musni to tears as she was retained in a private room, left to feel like nursing her baby was shameful. Fortunately for Musni, her experience with breastfeeding was strong enough that she wasn't about to let this incident deter her. Her main concern is the first time mothers that might allow such a violation stop ther nursing relationship. She has contacted the hospital administration, the local La Leche League, and anyone else that would listen to her story in search of support. Director of Public Relations Cyndi Joyce apologized to Musni in wriiting, stating that "It is not our policy to disallow breastfeeding in public areas. As a children's hospital we do ask that breastfeeding mothers take care to be fully covered in public areas. However, we do not mandate that they go to a private room." Musni happened to be covered during the incident, but is saddened by this part of their policy. She isn't alone; the local LLL has also expressed concern over this particular part of their policy. Breastfeeding is children friendly and healthy for them to see; attitudes like this, causing women to hide while they nurse as if it were a shameful act, are possibly a leading cause of lower breastfeeding rates in America. Virginia state law allows for a nursing baby to eat in public without it being considered "indecent exposure", and a children's hospital with the best interest of babies everywhere would best serve society by doing everything possible to normalize breastfeeding. Ms. Musni wonders if perhaps a nurse-in at the hospital might help the community embrace breastfeeding; hopefully CHKD will also sieze this opportunity.

breastfeeding     controversy     nursing in public