Home Forums Breastfeeding Breastfeeding breastfeeding laws and regulations?

I suppose I should introduce myself first! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Hello everyone. I am USCG wife, have two kids 19 months apart(what was I thinking??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ), and still nursing my 8 month old. Been looking at this site and I hae learned so much already! My question though is this: Anyone have a good resource about each state's laws regarding nursing in public and what not?

I had an experience recently where I was nursing my daughter on an airplane. The stewardess came to me and said in a hushed tone," Mam, could you cover yourself...for the sake of the other passengers?" I simply said, "No."

Looking back I could have said something more polite sounding and along the lines of my rights to nurse in public and it not being considered indecent exposure. I thought that next time I encounter this, I want to be prepared and armed with info!

TIA foryour advice and welcome!!
Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Welcome to the ask Lenore forums! There is an excellent resource that provides the breastfeeding laws state by state available here: http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawBills.html

And there is another one here: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/breast50.htm

As far as the airplane is concerned, that was a perfect opportunity to educate. We can usually assume that a nearby passenger made a complaint and we can say something (in a voice just loud enough to hear) to the effect that the baby is already covering the sensitive area, that covering the baby would restrict his/her airflow, that there is no alternative method of feeding this baby who needs nurishment now, that breastfeeding really is the normative way to feed an infant, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of an infant's life. And besides, in most cases, it's your right to breastfeed anywhere you are legally allowed to be. And besides, it's not like your baby will be feeding for the whole flight. You can say you're almost done and then just keep going until you're done.

It's always a good idea to check with the airline before purhcasing the ticket to see if they have a favorable breastfeeding policy to back you up. And if they don't, there's more than one airline. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Best,

thank you very much!! I found the la leche league one and will look at the other site you provided. also, yes what you said to do is a wonderful suggestion, so thanks again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />