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Moms hold breast-feeding protest in Fla.
AP ^ | 4/21/5

Posted on 04/21/2005 10:29:27 AM PDT by SmithL

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - A city commission candidate was criticized for breast-feeding her daughter during a public meeting, so 16 other mothers turned up and nursed their children at another gathering as a show of support.

Gabrielle Redfern apologized for offending anyone, but says she won't stop breast-feeding her child when necessary. She had been criticized by some for breast-feeding her 1-year-old daughter, Elsie, during Mayor David Dermer's recent State of the City address.

"Elsie's been coming to public meetings since she was 2 weeks old," said Redfern, who is in her first bid for public office. "I shouldn't have to choose between being a publicly involved citizen and being a good mother."

On Wednesday, 16 women held a "nurse-in" in support of Redfern, breast-feeding their babies at a Miami Beach Commission meeting.

"How is she supposed to raise her child and have a career if she isn't allowed to breast-feed her child when she attends meetings?" said Ellen Sandoval, who came to show her support. "I quit working because I didn't know or have the courage to do what she is doing."

State law says a woman can breast-feed her child anywhere she is otherwise legally allowed to be. But even in a city where topless sunbathing is common, others say there should be limits.

"I think it's a beautiful and natural thing, but there's a time and a place for it," said Joe Fontana, who regularly attends community meetings. "It's distracting. Why inside? Why not step outside to do it?"


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: dramaqueens; freeshowinflorida; slurp
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To: SmithL

For some strange reason I thought that pumps existed and for public situations the breast milk could be given via a bottle. At least that is what they tell me the lactation room is for......


21 posted on 04/21/2005 10:42:54 AM PDT by CSM
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To: tfecw
don't most mothers usually stop breast feeding before 1 year?

My son was breastfed until he was 3 1/2. He decided on his own to quit.
It's way cheaper than formula.
It's way easier than bottles.
It's more healthy for the kid.

Why the heck not?

22 posted on 04/21/2005 10:42:58 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: MediaMole
Grow up and stop staring at her breasts.

Or quit lying about being "distracted" and just cop a good stare.

23 posted on 04/21/2005 10:43:49 AM PDT by biblewonk (John 2:4 "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?...)
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To: politicket

My neighbor breastfed her son until he was three and a half years old. Isn't that extreme?


24 posted on 04/21/2005 10:44:09 AM PDT by SilentServiceCPOWife (Welcome to the Hotel Free Republic-You can check out any time you like but you can never leave)
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To: Constitution Day

I'm surprised that Mr Fontana did not advise the mother to go into the restroom to nurse her baby, as I have heard others say.

And Mr Fontana obviously does not understand about nursing on demand.


25 posted on 04/21/2005 10:44:20 AM PDT by Conservababe
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To: tobyhill
Just for you.


26 posted on 04/21/2005 10:45:43 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: SmithL

The only people who have a problem with this is men. I am a private person and do not want to put on a display, but newborns need to be fed every three hours or they will die. When I was flying alone with my infant with a layover at DFW, I timed it so I wouldn't have to nurse on the plane and planned to nurse at DFW during the layover. There was no place to go. In the women's bathroom there are no chairs to sit in and it is tiring to hold the baby and nurse standing up. I tried to sit on a toilet seat in a stall but the auto flush kept going off, wetting my clothes with spray. Finally, I gave up and went to the gate where I tried to nurse in a chair covered up. Some idiot guys kept coming up behind me to "see what was going on". Just thinking about this makes me mad all over again. I wish the guys that have a "problem" with this would just leave us the h*** alone, go away, give us some privacy.


27 posted on 04/21/2005 10:45:44 AM PDT by sportutegrl
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To: SmithL
Did they wear "I
my mammaries" buttons?
28 posted on 04/21/2005 10:47:12 AM PDT by The Great Yazoo ("Happy is the boy who discovers the bent of his life-work during childhood." Sven Hedin)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
I have a big appetite but this is going a bit far.
29 posted on 04/21/2005 10:48:06 AM PDT by tobyhill (The war on terrorism is not for the weak!)
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To: sportutegrl
The only people who have a problem with this is men.

I really don't have a problem with feeding in public. I do have a problem with using children in a protest before they are old enough to consent to being part of a protest. There are ways to protest without exploiting infants.

30 posted on 04/21/2005 10:49:43 AM PDT by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghanistan Honor Roll students.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

The one in the middle looks positively anorexic...


31 posted on 04/21/2005 10:49:47 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (It takes all kinds of critters...to make Farmer Vincents fritters)
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To: SmithL

I think that many many Americans are really neurotic and confused about the very natural purpose of breasts, and breastfeeding. Nursing isn't something that only animals should be seen doing, it really just could be part of life. If we saw it more often at malls and restaurants and parks, perhaps people wouldn't be sent into such a tiz over it.

That said... being a mommy during a professional meeting is at the very least unprofessional. It would be distracting to have her breastfeeding in a city meeting, as distracting as it would be to have her pretending to listen while she was spooning baby food into the mouth of her child. If she wants to have a job... I'm all for it. But nursing baby, changing diapers and talking baby talk during meetings is selfish distraction.


32 posted on 04/21/2005 10:52:01 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: Izzy Dunne

It never ceases to amaze me how such ninnies can bitch about a mother having to extract a "mammary" to feed her hungry baby.

A "distaction" would be a 10 year old standing up and suckling his mom's fountains.


33 posted on 04/21/2005 10:52:09 AM PDT by myheroesareDeadandRegistered (Ann Coulter/ Mark Levin tag team in '08)
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To: SmithL
"I shouldn't have to choose between being a publicly involved citizen and being a good mother."

No, but you shouldn't mix the two.

34 posted on 04/21/2005 10:52:24 AM PDT by Flyer ( ~ Get STOMPED ~ askGONPO.com ~)
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To: SmithL

35 posted on 04/21/2005 10:52:40 AM PDT by Snardius
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To: CSM

"For some strange reason I thought that pumps existed and for public situations the breast milk could be given via a bottle."

You've obviously never used a pump...


36 posted on 04/21/2005 10:52:52 AM PDT by Fam4Bush (More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of..........A.L. Tennyson)
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To: armymarinemom
I really don't care if the moms wanted to protest but who asked the babies if they wanted to take part? Humans should be old enough to consent involvement if they are used this way they are exploited.

Get real! The babies are children. They do what their parents instruct them to do. They live in a benevolent dictatorship.
37 posted on 04/21/2005 10:53:32 AM PDT by politicket (We now live in a society where "tolerance" is celebrated at the expense of moral correctness.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Wow, talk about economy-sized packaging. The kid would probably feel like he's been shopping at Sam's Wholesale Club or something.


38 posted on 04/21/2005 10:54:12 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: SilentServiceCPOWife

I think 3 1/2 is extreme, but I know many women who breast fed well into the 2nd year.


39 posted on 04/21/2005 10:54:24 AM PDT by najida (I wish I had Tina Turner's legs, Ann Coulter's brains and Paris Hilton's credit cards.)
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To: SmithL

Pix?


40 posted on 04/21/2005 10:55:05 AM PDT by add925 (The Left = Xenophobes in Denial)
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