My morning paper had a small photo on page 1 to announce the story 'First
breastfed baby in Stortinget (our parliament)'.  You can see the photo and
the story on line at http://www.dagsavisen.no/innenriks/article1816689.ece
The text won't mean as much to you unless you can decipher Norwegian.  
My translation follows:
The photo caption says "When Marianne Marthinsen and Hedda tried to test the
room as a nursery, the baby fell asleep instead.  From January, Hedda can be
fed in the assembly room, if mother and father are short of time on the
job."

And the article itself, headlined "Opens for breastfeeding"
"When Marianne Marthinsen is back at work she will be able to breastfeed in
the actual assembly room at Stortinget.  Little Hedda, 2 months, can be the
first person to be breastfed during a meeting of Stortinget.  
Until now there has been a strict ban against members taking anyone into the
room with them during meetings.  But when new mother and member of
Stortinget Marianne Marthinsen (Labour) starts there in January, it will be
to a different tune.
--If she needs to feed during a vote, we'll have to just disregard the ban.
We still feel that everyone, mother, baby and the others present, are best
served by letting the breastfeeding take place elsewhere, says the director
of Stortinget, Hans Brattestaa.
On election night Marianne sat in her breastfeeding fog and registered that
she was elected as Oslo's fifth Labour member of the national governing
body.  From January she and Hedda intend to manage the job, with
breastfeeding breaks and meetings.
--The problem is that I've been told I can't sit in the assembly room and
breastfeed during a meeting, she says.  According to the rules, only
members, members of the cabinet, and employees of the Storting are permitted
to sit in the room during actual deliberations.  
But when we contacted director Brattestaa, he said something else. 
--There is no law or rule that says breastfeeding isn't allowed in the room,
he says.  The director still hopes that Marthinsen and other breastfeeding
representatives try to be as considerate as possible.
--The assembly room isn't an especially good place for child care and
breastfeeding.  It can be distracting.  There should be a good reason if
someone is to breastfeed in the room, he emphasizes.  He has never been
confronted with the question before. 
--It's good to know I have the option, if there isn't time to go elsewhere.
At least I know I can do it, says Marthinsen, who praises the director for
allowing it.
--Brattestaa sends an important signal, that it is possible to combine
membership in Stortinget with caring for a small children.  I don't think
I'll do much breastfeeding in the room, but I intend to breastfeed as long
as possible, she says.
It will mainly be Hedda's father who will be responsible for getting her
there to feed..."

An additional story on the same page tells of two other mothers who were
breastfeeding while in Stortinget, but they used the remote video screens
which are in all the offices so they could follow debates while feeding
their babies in private.  One of them said 'Few mothers would want to feed
in the room because it is just plain impractical.  But if you have to, you
have to.'  This representative sat in her provincial parliament 9 years ago
and breastfed her first child while voting on the budget.  'It was pretty
demanding, sitting there voting while enveloped in breastfeeding fog,' she
said.

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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