12 Facts About What a “Nurse-in” Should Really Look Like
Jill DeLorenzo is a mother who, as she describes it, “fell into” breastfeeding activism after enduring demands to cover up or leave while nursing her children at her (now former) gym facility. She was a key part of the grassroots effort to pass Virginia’s 2015 “Right to Breastfeed” legislation. She is a national administrator of the Nationwide Nurse-In to bring attention to breastfeeding laws and is a local Best for Babes Miracle Milk™ Stroll coordinator to bring attention to fragile infants’ need for human milk. She lives in Ashburn, Virginia with her husband, two children, and dog.
Jill Testifying at the VA State Capital (middle)
In my short experience advocating for breastfeeding women, I have found the greatest misconceptions and judgments surround the “NURSE IN”. I wanted to take some time to clear up some myths by posting the facts.
This is an important read as it illustrates why I, a quiet and private person, would be so passionate and public about this matter.
FACT: A nurse-in looks and feels like a regular play date.
At nurse-ins, mothers and babies gather to breastfeed at a planned time for a “big latch-on”. This is a common, unplanned occurrence every day around the world, in parks, restaurants, and other places of resort or amusement. Unless a passerby is paying very close attention or looking to start a conflict, nothing is out of the norm.
FACT: Nurse-ins are held in reaction to poor treatment.
There is always an incident which necessitates the public outcry of a nurse-in. It could be harassing treatment, rude attitudes made public, or a lack of laws that protect a mom. This fact stands in contrast to the myth that mothers themselves are the ones looking for a problem.
FACT: Moms have to carve out precious time to participate in a nurse-in.
Mothers have enough on their plates with all of the work required to tend to their children. They do not invest their limited energy in starting new problems. Rather, they work to protect and defend their children from those who might try to cause them harm.
FACT: Nurse-ins are most successful when held in a timely manner.
A prompt public outcry encourages a quick apology from the offending party and discourages the distribution of the original offensive statement to highly impressionable new mothers.
FACT: Nurse-in facilitators are (most often) granted pre-approval for their groups to assemble.
This includes privately owned facilities. Each of the nurse-ins I have attended have either openly invited mothers in or have granted mothers a permit to assemble.
FACT: Many supporters of nurse-ins never breastfed a child.
The shaming of moms hits a nerve with all segments of the population. This includes all age groups, races, religions, and genders. This also includes mothers who bottle feed. (I must say, I am incredibly proud to include bottle feeding mothers among my strongest supporters!)
Breastfeeding culture in the United States is a subject that is intimately related to nurse-ins. I will take a moment to address several key facts that play into our current breastfeeding culture.
FACT: The law AND social media policy both support a woman’s right to breastfeed.
Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia have signed into law measures that defend a mother’s right to breastfeed. Facebook and Instagram both have policies that defend a mother’s right to share pictures of breastfeeding.
FACT: Breastfeeding IS “old school”.
Never in the history of the world, before the 20th century, would anyone dare to shame a mother for breastfeeding how and where she and baby are most comfortable. There are plenty of historical photographs and paintings that illustrate how breastfeeding was integrated into society.
FACT: The removal of breastfeeding from American culture occurred due to predatory marketing.
This is best summed up in this Business Insider timeline – an important read for ALL parents.http://www.businessinsider.com/nestles-infant-formula-scandal-2012-6?op=1 It is a fact that many in the older generations who oppose breastfeeding or believe it to be indecent in public do not know about this history of predatory marketing – and that they themselves could have been victims.
FACT: Breastfeeding photos on social media receive far more criticism than photos of any other food or feeding method.
Other feeding methods that are part of mainstream society but rarely, if ever, criticized, include: adult eating, pictures of adult solid food, infant bottle or cup feeding, and infant solids introduction. This fact necessitated the creation of policy statements to support breastfeeding families.
FACT: Nobody wants to be labeled as “the problem”.
This certainly applies to breastfeeding moms, as I have learned from my experience. It also applies to people who might see something wrong with nursing in public or sharing breastfeeding photos. This is why I encourage those who might currently oppose a nurse-in to thoughtfully read and consider this perspective. What would it mean to walk a mile in my shoes?