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There’s a growing drumbeat to provide women quiet and comfortable rooms in public places to breastfeed their children, unaccosted by the idiotic public. And why not, the work-provided lactation rooms for women to pump milk are so useful and popular and necessary. So, on the face of it, yes! Sounds great. And when I think about those moments in the beginning, when my dear daughters were just fresh and new and scream-y at inopportune moments (yes, the daughters of Hathor cried sometimes, the latest one even had colic!) and latching required skill, and concentration, and fumbling and mumbling, sweating and leaking. yes. Those times I could have used a nice quiet room to go into and nurse, at least to get them started, and please, not the bathroom or out in my car. please no. It would be really nice if the rooms were provided for my comfort and yours. But, that’s not really their point is it? not really. They are provided for the comfort of management, and the other patrons, so that there won’t be any issues with our rogue breasts.

And now whenever I walk into a museum or mall that has one of those rooms, I think “drat! I’m gonna get grief for breastfeeding here.” And it doesn’t feel very friendly. Certainly not to mama, or baby, or the siblings who are trapped in there too. And doesn’t it seem to be ultimately, a real lack of breastfeeding knowledge? Who here has ever had a baby who nursed for a few minutes and then would stop? All of my babies wanted almost constant contact with the nipple and would have the uncanny ability to wake up when I put it away. I imagine that lactation room would get pretty old, pretty fast. Once the baby was latched on I would want to walk out a re-enter the world. Perhaps a sign on the door that says “breastfeeding room for your convenience, but feel free to nurse anywhere.” wouldn’t that rock?

Love,
Heather