Patricia - thanks for sharing this information.
I have to ask, however, what the details were. And how did you obtain the
information? Although I have heard of reports of this happening, I have not
been able to verify any that really occurred primarily or exclusively for
extended breastfeeding.
For instance, the mother in the old Syracuse case indicated that she lost
her kid for ext.brf. But it was really that she was feeling aroused,
indicated that she was scared she was going to act on those feelings, and
the reason the child was removed was because they thought she had engaged in
mutual sexual fondling. However, the mother told everyone (even on national
TV) she lost her kid for extended breastfeeding.
There was a case recently in Illinois. Appeared to be extended
breastfeeding. Real issue was the child sleeping naked with Dad - and that
child indicated she had touched both her parent's genitals.
Many times the mother may indicate breastfeeding is the problem. And it may
be ONE of the issues. But I have never seen a child removed for just
extended breastfeeding. And with removal, there is ALMOST ALWAYS more going
on than we may be aware of. The SSA can't tell you what is really going on.
It is privleged. You are getting only the mother's report.
What bothers me about this thread is the fear. Are we going to hide in our
homes, lie to our doctors and friends, because we are so scared to let
people know that we are nurturing our kids in a warm, loving way? If we are
so scared, why not just carry around the Innocenti Declaration - a copy of
Kathy Dettwyler's information - and add to that a copy of Mothering Your
Nursing Toddler - or copies of the chapters on nursing past age four from
that book and the Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning. And how about Dr.
Sugerman's study last year that surveyed mothers engaging in extended
breastfeeding.
I'd rather see you all lug a briefcase with materials around with you than
operate from a base of fear. Not only is it no healthy for you, but it
perpetrates the myths about extended breastfeeding. And you end up looking
worse in a SSA eyes - why DO you think you have to hide this? So, YOU think
there is something wrong with your choice?
Worse than that, the people on this list are primarly lactation
professionals. You set a model for the public. Do you really want to model fear?
And hey, social service agencies are in a state of crisis all over the US,
and can remove for child for more reasons than you could imagine. Maybe we
should never go out in public ... maybe we should never answer our doors or
phones... how far do we take this?
_______________________
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
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