Sustainable Mothering » Breastfeeding in Public

“Tits in the Parliament”: Are Fines for Breastfeeding Harassment Always a Good Thing?

Jake — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:51:12 +0000

For some months now I have been hearing about a proposed bill heading to the Taiwan Parliament that would impose a large fine (30,000 Taiwan dollars, about 940 US dollars) on "anyone attempting to prevent breastfeeding in public." Breastfeeding advocates the world over have heralded this bill as a model for laws elsewhere. However, I [...]

A Podcast with Me from the 2007 La Leche League International Conference – Still Timely, I Promise

Jake — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:48:53 +0000

Back in July of 2007, I gave a session on Breastfeeding and the Law at the La Leche League International Conference in Chicago. Good session, if I do say so myself, which you can buy on CD here. [Disclaimer: I don't make a cent if you buy it.] While at the Conference, I also did [...]

Another Intoxication Allegation So Rescind Alcohol Treatment Option??

Jake — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:06:21 +0000

Stacey Anvarinia, the North Dakota women who pled guilty to child neglect for allegedly breastfeeding her infant daughter while intoxicated, has been arrested again. According to the Grand Forks Herald, within hours of Anvarinia's sentencing to 18 months imprisonment, all but six months suspended and with an option to serve part of the six months [...]

Jury Back in Drunken Breastfeeder case … Oh, Wait, She Didn’t Get a Jury

Jake — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:22:23 +0000

As promised, here is an update on Stacey Anvarinia, the North Dakota women who pled guilty to child neglect for allegedly breastfeeding her six-week-old daughter while drunk. For more on what appears to be a startling lack of evidence, see my post here. My suspicion that Anvarinia pled guilty as part of a deal for [...]

The “Drunken Breastfeeder” Case: Will the Real Felon Please Stand up?

Jake — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:56:17 +0000

When I read the Associated Press story this past June about the guilty plea for "child abuse or neglect" by a North Dakota woman alleged to have breastfed her child while intoxicated, a few things leapt off the screen at me. I wondered why this mother had pled guilty. As a lawyer I know that [...]

This is What a Nursing Toddler Looks Like

Jake — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:17:31 +0000

Top Hat over at Its All About the Hat suggested a Breastfeeding Blog Carnival called "This is What a Nursing Toddler Looks Like." [This is my first blog carnival so I will link to the other participants as soon as I figure out the rules of the game - UPDATE: I have added some links [...]

What to Do When a Woman Breastfeeds Near You on an Airplane

Jake — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:44:03 +0000

Seems odd to me that people are confused about what to do when a woman is breastfeeding her child on an airplane. If you have ever walked on a plane with a small child, you know that look on people's faces – that look that says "please, please don't sit next to me." No one [...]

When is Breastfeeding Rights Legislation a Bad Thing?

Jake — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:39:46 +0000

When it does not create or protect the right of a woman to breastfeed. When is breastfeeding rights legislation a really really bad thing? When it makes it even more difficult for a woman to breastfeed than if there were no law at all. And this really really bad thing is what is happening in [...]

At Last – Massachusetts Gets a Public Breastfeeding Law

admin2 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:19:30 +0000

After years of lobbying and failed legislative bills, Massachusetts breastfeeding advocates have at long last succeeded in getting a law passed to protect breastfeeding in public. Yay and congratulations to all the people who have worked so hard and for so long! I am particularly pleased to see that that the new law, which goes [...]

The Facebook Fracas – Now What?

admin2 — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:41:41 +0000

This week the press and the mothering blogosphere have been filled with talk of Facebook. If you need to catch up, see this blog entry at PhDinParenting. If you want to hear some good old fashioned outrage, check out this podcast of Fox Across America which aired on 12/26 and includes an interview with me [...]