<< Apparently two family physicians and the Director of Nurses complained to
the hospital administrator about her breastfeeding her child at the
hospital.

and

<<nurses who don't do breastfeeding...

Every time I hear about these cases, I'm reminded of my own problems with
colleagues.  I worked Pedi, Pedi ICU, NICU and Mother/Baby - all units
where you would expect some support of breastfeeding, right?  During this
time, 2 of my babies were born.  (The lucky third was born once I was in
private practice.)

Pumping was a HUGE issue with my RN co-workers.  I was told that pumping in
the break room (my only option) was "disgusting" and "obnoxious".  One RN
told me she would "throw up her lunch" if she saw my breastmilk.  Another
RN (who was pumping for twins - but not at work) told me I would make
enemies if I tried to take a break so I could pump.  I was told no one
would watch my patients.  (We never had staff to cover breaks in the PICU;
we ate on the run at the nurses station.)  My supervisor told me I was a
troublemaker for insisting that I get at least one of my legally allowed
breaks a day so that I could pump.

In spite of this, I breastfed until they self-weaned at 1 and 2 years.
Luckily I didn't have to pump the whole time.  Many times I cried while I
was pumping from the rude comments.  And I was really lit into when I
compared my breaks with the smokers'.  God forbid they miss out on their
cigarettes.

I was also asked by an RN to leave the waiting room for an exam room in my
OB/GYN clinic because my breastfeeding was "offensive to the other
patients".  And it wasn't like anything was showing.  I told her about
California's Right to Breastfeed law.  She then tried to convince me that
I'd be more comfortable elsewhere.  Guess who didn't budge?

In Pedi, I was consistently given the patient assignment of breastfed
babies, or called to help, or to set up a pump, etc, etc because the other
RNs didn't "do breastfeeding".

Hoping things have changed...

Marita (in the San Francisco Bay Area, California - where we are supposedly
are so much more breastfeeding supportive than in many other places)

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