Moms hold breast-feeding protest in Fla.

AP ^ | 4/21/5

[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?"

[MahaMarty]

Was that a pun?

[chs68]

""I shouldn't have to choose between being a publicly involved citizen and being a good mother.""

No, indeed you should not, ma'am.

On the other hand, does being a "good mother" include taking your child with you to meetings?

More specificially, ma'am, I see that you are a candidate for the City COmmission.

If elected to that office, would you then be bringing your child with you -- to have all the time?

Or would you entrust your child to daycare? And, if you do, wouldn't you make some arrangments for providing breastmilk to your child that would not include your personal feeding of the child?

[azhenfud]

"If women can breastfeed in public, or at restaurants while you're eating as she happens to be in the table next to you, men can pee in public."

Breastfeeding only leaves a milktache. If you can "pee in public" and not leave a stain, have at it. I doubt you can...;-)

[politicket]

I call bull****. Newborns can live for several days without food.

You are absolutely correct. Although the maternity wards at hospitals won't tell you that when the baby is born. They want you to start on the formula and don't explain about the lactation process of the mother.

[HairOfTheDog]

She wasn't "on the job," she was attending a meeting, sitting in the audience as a member of the public and as a candidate for the city commission. Since the article says nothing about her "changing diapers and talking baby talk," I don't know how you can claim these "selfish distractions" took place.

As a candidate, people should assess her behavior at meetings as part of evaluating how she'll be on the job. The examples I used were just ~other~ examples of normal parenting that I wondered if she intended to do during meetings. She said she's been bringing baby to meetings with her all along. Will she continue this if elected?

[dfwgator]

Once again, life imitates "Married with Children."

[politicket]

Was that a pun?

Only if you're Bill Clinton... ;-)

Seriously, you sound like you have a problem with breastfeeding at a restaurant. That sounds like a problem that you need to get over. And to equate it with taking a pee is just ludicrous!

[Hildy]

Why the heck not? Did you have any life for 3 1/2 years?

[HairOfTheDog]

Although the maternity wards at hospitals won't tell you that when the baby is born. They want you to start on the formula and don't explain about the lactation process of the mother.

That's silly. They showed my friend how, as a nervous first mom, and wouldn't release my friend and her baby from the hospital until mom and baby were nursing well. All the pamplets and instructions were about the benefits of breastfeeding over formula. Feeding baby really shouldn't be a political issue.

[MahaMarty]

Do you pee without unzipping your pants or something, since when does urinating leave a pee stain n your pants? Boxers or briefs, maybe. Well, unless you're not wearing any, but, who would ever want to give away the fact that there is only one article of clothing separating Wang's Auto Parts from the rest of the world.

[WolfRunnerWoman]

This wasn't about nutrition for a infant. It was about some whiner with an axe to grind.

I don't have any so-called "hang-ups" about breasts, but I don't think that it's necessary to whip 'em out in public like a Hottentot either.

And thank you. I am an amazing creature,(-;

[ZULU]

Got milk???

[Freemyland]

Why would the kid cry? I thought I learned recently that starving was euphoric.

[Alouette]

It's distracting.

It's possible to feed an infant and be totally discreet about it. There are many nursing outfits made just for that reason.

[MudSlide]

I can't see anything wrong with breast feeding in public - but I can't see anything wrong with staring either - so what do I know - go figure!

Everytime a woman flops out a tit - I am the first one exposed as a prevert!!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

[azhenfud]

The floor?

[politicket]

Why the heck not? Did you have any life for 3 1/2 years?

My wife breastfed for the same amount of time and there was never an issue with "having a life". Our son has always been an integral part of our life and it was never an "inconvenience".

BTW, he is an extremely secure, well-adjusted boy who happens to have a very high IQ (from all of that good natural baby milk)...

[MahaMarty]

Get over it? No, thanks, I'll just opine on it, privately, after it happens. But, really, I feel itS something that should be decided by the establishment. If, I were the owner of the restaurant, I'd tell her to but her lung back in her shirt. But, if another owner decides thats its ok, then so be it. But, I can still think its inappropriate to do.

[azhenfud]

"Will she continue this if elected?"

Daggone right! only she'll be doing the sucking then.

[Hildy]

Good. I'm glad to hear that.