MP causes breastfeeding row

by ozziepost 4 Replies latest social family

• 

  ozziepost

  Today's news in Oz includes this item about a State MP breast-feeding her baby in the Parliament.

  Do you think there's a chance that this could occur at your local KH? Does it?

  ---

  20:56 AEST Wed 26 Feb 2003

  Marshall causes breastfeeding row Victoria's newest celebrity MP, former Olympic aerial skier Kirstie Marshall, was ordered to leave the floor of state parliament after breastfeeding her new baby in the chamber. The move sparked outrage among breastfeeding advocates, who branded the decision discriminatory and archaic. Ms Marshall caused a stir in the Legislative Assembly when she began breastfeeding 11-day-old Charlotte just before question time. She was asked to leave by the Serjeant-at-Arms, due to rules banning non-MPs from the floor. Ms Marshall said she had not realised she was not allowed to feed Charlotte in the chamber, and was not trying to make a statement.

  "Charlotte was due for a feed so I whacked her on the breast and walked in ... I've since found out that there is a law or a rule that actually stated that you can't have a stranger in the house," Ms Marshall told reporters.

  "And as she hasn't been elected to parliament ... she's not an individually-elected member."

  Australian Breastfeeding Association director Lee King she was amazed mothers were still prevented from doing what was natural.

  "We feel that babies should be breastfed anywhere at any time. It's a baby's right," Ms King told AAP.

  "Particularly in an area like parliament; this is the place where laws and trends can be set ... It's not sending a message out to the community that we really want to hear."

  Legislative Assembly speaker Judy Maddigan said a review into parliamentary rules would examine the issue, and an exception could soon be made for breastfeeding MPs.

  "There's no doubt that the parliament was set up at a time when it was never envisaged that the members would have babies in here, so it's not very baby friendly," she told AAP.

  Premier Steve Bracks said a room had been set aside close to the chamber for Ms Marshall to feed Charlotte.

  He said he supported family-friendly reforms to parliament, but a line had to be drawn somewhere.

  "The chamber itself is a bit different to the parliamentary precinct," he said.

  "It is a chamber which only MPs and members of parliament can debate legislation, that is important and that has always been the case."

  Opposition Leader Robert Doyle said he had no problem with making changes to accommodate Ms Marshall and the needs of her baby.

  But he said parliament during question time might be an inappropriate environment for infant children.

  A world champion aerial skier, Ms Marshall won the lower house seat of Forest Hill for Labor in last year's state election.

  
  ©AAP 2003
• 

  RAYZORBLADE

  Ozziepost, I do recall...this is some time ago, an area that had been set-up at the some of the assemblies here in Canada, for women to breast-feed their babies.

  Honestly, I've seen breastfeeding done in public here; my cousin, she nurses her baby in front of me, and to me it seems perfectly natural. I have seen it done by other women, here there and everywhere.

  As for the MP (Kirstie Marshall) from the state of Victoria down yonder, I have to admit, whether she intended to or not, she may have started something.

  Back about 14 years ago, ya wanna see a wild and wacky sight? When the then federal Tory (Progressive Conservative) government introduced the GST (Goods and Services Tax), it raised quite an uproar.

  When the final vote was in, and of course, because the Tories had a majority, the bill passed to introduce the GST, was a shoe-in, despite the protest of many Canadians. Out of almost every opposing MP's seat came roll after roll of toilet paper flying across the House of Commons. It was hilarious!! Accompanied by much yelling and hollering and jeering. Mind you, the tax sucked. I remember there must have been hundreds of rolls flying through the air. OH well...tells you plenty about what they wanted to do about the GST here in Canada.

  I can't recall any sister/woman at the hall ever doing this, but I just recall there was a place for them to nurse their baby.

  Any lurkers on here breastfeeding want to be a bit more blatant at the Kingdom Hall?
• 

  Shakita

  Hi Ozzie:

  I breastfed three of my four kids. I breastfed them anywhere I wanted to. The mall, the park, etc. But, when out in public, I was as discreet as possible. This not only made me feel better, but made the people nearby more comfortable.

  In my Kingdom Hall, the breastfeeding Moms would go into the Library or Bathroom to feed their babies. I preferred the library......the bathroom had its disadvantages sometimes. And, there would be other Moms there too, so it was most enjoyable to while away the time gabbing with them, instead of studying the boring WT lesson!

  There is nothing more natural than a Mom breastfeeding her baby. The mother in your story there had the right to breastfeed her baby anywhere she wanted to. But, in any work enviroment, you have to follow the rules that they have established. This goes beyond just the breastfeeding issue. What if the baby starts crying....and babies do all the time....it can be very disruptive. Then again, if babies are allowed at your place of work, then to feed that child should be part of the package.

  "Charlotte was due for a feed so I whacked her on the breast and walked in ...

  Very funny.....whacked...

  Mrs. Shakita
• 

  Scully

  There's a time and place for everything, and there are reasons for policies and procedures.

  One of the big reasons why Canada allows new mothers to take up to a year in maternity leave, is so that breastfeeding can be facilitated and encouraged. The World Health Organization recommends that women breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months of life, and continue to breastfeed while solids are introduced into the baby's diet until the baby's first birthday.

  Maybe it's time that other countries (the US and Australia, for example) looked at the long-term benefits of having mothers taking longer maternity leaves from work. Babies are healthier when they breastfeed, due to the immune globulins that babies receive while taking in their mother's milk, not just while they are babies, but the immunity they receive lasts until the child becomes school-aged and beyond. This means that fewer moms will be taking time off work to tend to infants with ear infections, not to mention whatever bugs that baby's immature immune system may come in contact with in a day care environment.

  Many places offer accomodation for women who need to pump their milk and store it for their babies when they return to work. And I see nothing wrong with breastfeeding a baby in public - I've done it myself - however common sense has to prevail and usually nobody is offended when it is done discreetly. I don't believe in breastfeeding a baby in a bathroom - I don't eat in the bathroom, why should my child? - but there has to be some appropriate accommodation for nursing mothers. The rules of order in the house of parliament, on the other hand..... I would have felt compelled to excuse myself... I couldn't see myself whipping out my breasts to feed my baby while carrying out my duties as an elected official - it lacks something in the way of decorum and respect for the office you represent.

  That's just my opinion, as a maternal newborn care nurse and as a breastfeeding advocate.

  Love, Scully
• 

  happyout

  The picture makes it look as though she does not have any covering over her breast, which I find inappropriate. I breastfed my son for a year, and if I was in public, his head and my breast were always covered. I think breastfeeding is the best thing for mother and child, and I am a total advocate that it should be encouraged far more than it is, but I also think mothers should use some common sense, and respect others. I used a breast pump when I went back to work, and pumped in the ladies room, and even in there, I covered my chest. Just be discreet, not ashamed, but discreet.