Breastfeeding Moms Hold 'Nurse-In' at Starbucks
More than two dozen mothers staged a breastfeeding "nurse-in" at a Starbucks Corp. store in Maryland over the weekend in an effort to get the world's largest coffee shop chain to adopt a policy allowing breastfeeding in all its U.S. stores.
Lorig Charkoudian, who organized the event, said on Tuesday that she began her quest a month ago when she was nursing her 15-month-old daughter at the store in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was asked by a Starbucks employee to cover up with a blanket or breastfeed in the bathroom.
She protested and, after eventually reaching the regional vice president, got Seattle-based Starbucks to recognize a Maryland law that allows mothers to breastfeed their children in public.
Starbucks spokeswoman Audrey Lincoff said in a statement that the coffee chain "quickly apologized for her negative experience" and reminded employees at its Maryland stores to comply with the law.
Charkoudian argues that Starbucks should have gone a step further and allow breastfeeding at all its 5,882 coffee shops in the United States.
Her child is 15 months old? How long is a child breast-fed?
I remember seeing a television a while back and a woman was breastfeeding her toddler and someone who was looking on said, "If the kid can chew steak it's time to stop breastfeeding".
I digress.
I don't think there is anything wrong with a mother breastfeeding her child in public - - However, call me a prude, I think it is appropriate to have a bit of tact about it.
Posted by Uptown Girl
Posted by Lawren at August 11, 2004 08:51 AM
You Said
don't think there is anything wrong with a mother breastfeeding her child in public - - However, call me a prude, I think it is appropriate to have a bit of tact about it.
That last part is what always gets me in trouble for being a *gasp* man!
I know breastfeeding is natural and is better for babies. But that doesn't mean I want to see it whilst eating my dinner. I've never understood how this became an 'empowerment' issue.
But, of course, I'm a knuckle-dragging caveman for not wanting to see a woman breastfeed. Lots of things are natural in this world; but that doesn't mean I want to see it.
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Kevin the Interloper at August 11, 2004 09:31 AM
I don't "GET" the whole nursing until they are teens concept. (sarcasm) I also don't understand why a woman would not want to "cover up" while having a moment with their child.
Yes it is a natural thing and yes its healthy... but so is making sure you go to the bathroom and not "holding it" but I don't really want to see that happening in public either. (Okay... not the same thing but still!)
I'm sorry... kinda a pet peeve of mine.
- Dana
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Dana at August 11, 2004 09:44 AM
I don't care if they breastfeed, but to think they do not have to cover their boobage? That's just stoopid.
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Rori at August 11, 2004 01:49 PM
Eek. A breast. Someone. Stop her. I'm forever scarred.
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Kevin at August 11, 2004 02:28 PM
Prude.
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Frida at August 11, 2004 06:17 PM
Breastfeeding good. Breasts good. Cover with blanket so grunting boobs (the other kind) don't stare. Ugh.
Oh, and twelve months is basically the cutoff. Anything after that is just showing off ...
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MartiniPundit at August 11, 2004 06:47 PM
I don't like to witness breastfeeding. It just seems too private to put out there for everyone to see and it seems like the ones who show it off the most are the ones I REALLY don't want to see barechested. Docs say 2-years-old is the cut-off but I think if the kid can say, "Hey Mom! How 'bout a Happy Meal with this??" they need to come off the boob.
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Nanc' at August 11, 2004 09:12 PM
Problem is, those moms who are unsure about breastfeeding will more likely choose the formula route to avoid just these type of comments. I know, it can be awkward, but it would be nice if society could just deal with it since it is the best thing for new infants. I don't push breastfeeding on my patients, but I wish I could convince them that along with providing immunities for their baby they'd be saving so much hassle and $ by not having to travel with bottles of formula all the time. Of course, looks of disapproval from educated adults in public don't help much.
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Kelly at August 12, 2004 10:58 AM
Uh, excuse me WHY ARE BREAST FEEDING MOTHERS DRINKING COFFEE???!!! ISN'T THAT AGAINST THE RULES??
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Grace at August 12, 2004 12:17 PM
I DUNNO, MAYBE SHE WAS DRINKING ONE OF THEIR FINE NON-CAFFEINATED OFFERINGS.
...sheesh. Also, in moderation, there's nothing wrong with caffeine for nursing moms:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/caffeine.html
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Kevin at August 12, 2004 12:42 PM
I tried breastfeeding with my last. Milk came in late, hospital gave her a bottle, she never would go back to the breast. Yes, I'd planned to save a lot of money and provide, "immune juice." Didn't work out.
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Nanc' at August 12, 2004 01:06 PM
As a strong supporter of extended breastfeeding I do not see any reason why mothers should not be allowed to breastfeed their toddlers and older children in public.
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Steve McPhail at September 14, 2004 05:07 PM
After several email correspondences with the organizer of the "Nurse-Ins at Starbuck's Campaign", Lorig Charkoudian, it has been discovered that the Nurse At Starbuck's is a scam to gain publicity and research. Charkoudian is using the group's website and email to underhandly gain research by not telling people who email her that the correspondence will be, according to Charkoudian, used as "fascinating fodder for a planned book about cultural intolerance of traditional parenting and misogynistic and self-hating (in the case of women who can't come to grips with the basic true function of their breast)attitudes." Charkoudian has also been using the real names of people who correspond with her on television shows and in interviews without notification or protection of the individuals' identities.
If you agree that these tactics are an outrage, PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ORGANIZATION!!!!
If you have corresponded with Charkoudian (good or bad correspondence), PLEASE CONTACT A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS!!!
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Kate at October 20, 2004 07:41 PM