When Teresa Pitman sat down to breastfeed her child at
an Ontario amusement park some years ago, a security guard
soon told her in no uncertain terms to cover up and make
herself scarce. "Now, at the same park, I see nursing
mothers everywhere," says Ms Pitman, who also happens
to be executive director of La Leche League Canada, an
international organization that promotes breastfeeding.
"It's become a lot more accepted."
AMERICA
THE MODEST?
But the issue of breastfeeding in public has once again
exposed itself to priggish ire. In August, Illinois
joined the two-dozen other states that allow women to
breastfeed openly. The debate was brought to the fore
by an outraged mother who was kicked out of a gym's
day care � for nursing.
Though Canada has no such legislation,
there have been some test cases supporting a woman's
right to go topless, which can be interpreted to include
public nursing. In 1996, the Ontario Court of Appeal
ruled that women have an equal right to go topless wherever
men do. BC's court has made a similar ruling. Breastfeeding
campaigners feel these cases make strong legal precedents
for the rest of Canada.
LACTATION
EMANCIPATION
But even if it's legal, should mothers be nursing their
babies in airplanes and malls? Of course they should,
says Dr Peter Nieman, a Calgary pediatrician and father
of four breastfed children. "I don't think anyone should
be offended by that," he says. "At the same time, mums
should be discreet and sensitive to others' wishes."
This is especially true in places where people can't
walk away from a nursing mother if they're uncomfortable
� like in an airplane. If there's a scene, it will likely
cause stress to both the mother and baby.
POOR
DINING AMBIENCE
For mums who decide that breastfeeding in public is
a good idea for them and junior, there's still the matter
of whether to stay in a restaurant seating area, for
example, or go to the washroom to nurse. Dr Nieman doesn't
think washrooms are the best choice. "Twenty minutes
breastfeeding in a washroom, even if it's clean, is
still a long time in a small space where there could
be poor circulation," he says. "With all the people
going in and out, the risk of droplet infection is increased."
In addition, he points out that "not all people wash
their hands, so contact infection risk is also high."
Some public buildings have solved
the problem by including designated feeding rooms. Dr
Nieman thinks they're a great idea. "Even though they're
still in a fairly enclosed space, at least they're not
toilet areas," he says. "Breastfeeding should definitely
be kept in mind when architects are planning buildings."
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