Barbara, you wrote about the mothers who wanted to breastfeed their babies
in a pool  during baby swimming lessons. Apparently the instructor left
when they began, and you have now heard the pool's side of the story.

Let me start by saying that I believe that I may have heard from the mother
who this happened to - right after it happened. And I do believe that such
efforts to resolve it were not made initially - at least when I spoke to
the mother. As a matter of fact, I got the impression that the pool's
position was quite rigid.

Barbara, you are absolutely right that mothers in New York have a right to
breastfeed their babies whereever they may be. And the reasons that they
gave you for not wanting these mothers to breastfeed are quite astonishing.
 I am amazed that their concern was the safety of breastmilk getting in the
pool, or a child aspirating on pool water while breastfeeding. I am glad
that you gave them accurate information on those issues! That is exactly
what we need to do when we receive legal calls - provide accurate
breastfeeding information.

I personally do not feel that mothers should have to make their baby wait
15-20 minutes to breastfeed. Remember that a baby could become upset, and
need to nurse right then and there. Without talking to the mother involved,
you can't know what her exact objection is to getting out of the pool. I
gather that what they are trying to do is to get the mother to cover
herself entirely so that nothing shows. Thus, the underlying complaint
probably is that he was embarassed, and didn't know how to handle it.

The purpose of NY's law is to try to change the way our society views
breastfeeding. There are many ways for the pool to work out this situation.
I am glad that they offered this. But I would want to know what suggestions
the mother may have had.

Remember that you have spoken to only one side. And thus it is hard for you
(and probably improper at that) to make a judgment as to who is right or
wrong. This is true regardless of the legal situation. We need to hear both
sides if we are asked to judge. And to be honest, rarely should you be
judging. With these cases, or even the family law ones. Our job is to give
breastfeeding information, not decide who is right or wrong. Hard to do
when our heart is in it!

Keep in mind that you do not know how discreetly these mothers were
breastfeeding. Or what options they discussed. Or what position the pool
originally took that could make the mothers feel a bit more entrenched in
their position. Why not ask her if you could speak to the people involved?
You may get an earful!

As a final note, I know it is tempting to get involved to the point of
deciding who is right or wrong. I am seeing that in more notes than just
this. You, as a health professional, don't need to give your opinion as to
what they should do, unless you have a good idea for compromise that no one
has thought of. Stick to giving that wonderful accurate information, and
remember there are usually two sides to every story!

Liz Baldwin
_______________________
Elizabeth N. Baldwin,  Esq.        Baldwin & Friedman, P.A.
2020 N.E. 163rd St. # 300          N. Miami Beach, Fla. 33162-4970
Phone:  305-944-9100                Home office: 954-929-9090
Fax:  305-949-9029                    [log in to unmask]
http://www.parentsplace.com/shopping/esq/index.html
Breastfeeding and the Law:  http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawMain.html