Joined Nov 2004
King Sheep
Forum Thread
Mom pushes Applebee's on breast-feeding
August 30, 2007 at
10:13 AM
Original article from Lexington Herald Leader [kentucky.com]
Mom pushes Applebee's on breast-feeding
WANTS CHANGE IN POLICY AFTER BEING TOLD TO COVER HERSELF
By Linda B. Blackford
[email protected]
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
David Stephenson | Staff
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
In June, Brooke Ryan walked into a Nicholasville Road Applebee's restaurant to celebrate an anniversary lunch with her children.
She walked out humiliated, in tears and without the lunch.
But the incident over breast-feeding her 7-month-old son at Applebee's has spurred the soft-spoken 34-year-old to start a public awareness campaign on the rights of breast-feeding women in Kentucky.
"On a small scale, I want Applebee's to change its policy," Ryan said. "On a large scale ... I want breast-feeding to be accepted."
The dispute with Applebee's began June 14. Ryan chose a booth in the back of the restaurant away from other customers. When her baby, Michael, got hungry, she began to nurse him discreetly, she said.
But a waitress came over and said that if she wanted to breast-feed, she had to cover the baby with a blanket. Ryan said it was so hot that she didn't have a blanket. The waitress then repeated her request. Ryan said she then asked to see the manager and handed him a copy of the 2006 Kentucky law that prohibits interference with a woman breast-feeding her baby in public.
The manager said he knew about the law but a customer had complained about indecent exposure, so she had to cover the baby with a blanket.
Ryan left as her food came, to nurse her baby in the car.
Her lawyer wrote a letter to Thomas & King, the company that operates Applebee's in Central Kentucky. They got no response. After a second letter, a Thomas & King lawyer said the restaurant chain would consider keeping blankets in the restaurant so that breast-feeding women could cover themselves.
"That's like telling Rosa Parks she still had to sit in the back of the bus, but we'll give her a blanket to make her more comfortable," Ryan said.
When contacted yesterday, Mike Scanlon, president of Thomas & King, said he didn't know about the incident. However, he called the Herald-Leader back to say that Applebee's had no policy against breast-feeding.
"It is perfectly legal to breast-feed in public and we support that," Scanlon said. "I'm not sure the manager said cover the baby's head, I think he said cover yourself modestly. This was by no means intended as interference, but a request to do it modestly, which I believe is an appropriate response."
Ryan says that as an experienced breast-feeder, she is extremely modest, and, in that instance, made sure that she was facing into the corner.
"Some women think it's fine to cover up with a blanket, but a woman shouldn't be forced to," said her husband, Michael Ryan.
Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, who sponsored the breast-feeding protection bill, agrees.
"She was not treated right under the new law," he said. "There should have been no comment made to her at all; the restaurant overstepped its boundaries. There's no way they can explain their way out of this."
Thirty-nine states, including Kentucky, allow women to breast-feed in any public or private location.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for about the first six months and support for breast-feeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child. But according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 11 percent of mothers meet the six-month mark. Thirty percent breast-feed exclusively for the first three months. Kentucky's rates are 7.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively, according to a 2007 report.
Scanlon suggested that Ryan had an "agenda."
"I note with interest that she had a copy of the statute with her," he said. "I'm glad to let this become a matter that we can all learn from."
But if all Ryan wanted going into Applebee's was an anniversary lunch, she may indeed have an agenda now.
August is World Breast-feeding Awareness Month, and Ryan has organized two related public events:
• A "Nurse-In" at the children's play area at Fayette Mall from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Ryan says the mall is not a target, but has a place for kids to play.
• From noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 8, she is holding a "Nurse Out" with posters and breast-feeding in front of the Applebee's on Nicholasville Road.
She's also asking for a public apology from Applebee's and training for its employees about the rights of breast-feeding mothers. Some day, she says, she would like to see the international breast-feeding symbol of a mother and child in every restaurant that supports the practice.
"I'm not trying to be provocative," she said. "I want to teach."
Read comments from Kentucky.com [prospero.com]
Read comments from Fark.com [fark.com]
Reach Linda Blackford at (859) 231-1359 or [email protected].
EDIT: Added Polling Goodness!
Mom pushes Applebee's on breast-feeding
WANTS CHANGE IN POLICY AFTER BEING TOLD TO COVER HERSELF
By Linda B. Blackford
[email protected]
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
David Stephenson | Staff
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
In June, Brooke Ryan walked into a Nicholasville Road Applebee's restaurant to celebrate an anniversary lunch with her children.
She walked out humiliated, in tears and without the lunch.
But the incident over breast-feeding her 7-month-old son at Applebee's has spurred the soft-spoken 34-year-old to start a public awareness campaign on the rights of breast-feeding women in Kentucky.
"On a small scale, I want Applebee's to change its policy," Ryan said. "On a large scale ... I want breast-feeding to be accepted."
The dispute with Applebee's began June 14. Ryan chose a booth in the back of the restaurant away from other customers. When her baby, Michael, got hungry, she began to nurse him discreetly, she said.
But a waitress came over and said that if she wanted to breast-feed, she had to cover the baby with a blanket. Ryan said it was so hot that she didn't have a blanket. The waitress then repeated her request. Ryan said she then asked to see the manager and handed him a copy of the 2006 Kentucky law that prohibits interference with a woman breast-feeding her baby in public.
The manager said he knew about the law but a customer had complained about indecent exposure, so she had to cover the baby with a blanket.
Ryan left as her food came, to nurse her baby in the car.
Her lawyer wrote a letter to Thomas & King, the company that operates Applebee's in Central Kentucky. They got no response. After a second letter, a Thomas & King lawyer said the restaurant chain would consider keeping blankets in the restaurant so that breast-feeding women could cover themselves.
"That's like telling Rosa Parks she still had to sit in the back of the bus, but we'll give her a blanket to make her more comfortable," Ryan said.
When contacted yesterday, Mike Scanlon, president of Thomas & King, said he didn't know about the incident. However, he called the Herald-Leader back to say that Applebee's had no policy against breast-feeding.
"It is perfectly legal to breast-feed in public and we support that," Scanlon said. "I'm not sure the manager said cover the baby's head, I think he said cover yourself modestly. This was by no means intended as interference, but a request to do it modestly, which I believe is an appropriate response."
Ryan says that as an experienced breast-feeder, she is extremely modest, and, in that instance, made sure that she was facing into the corner.
"Some women think it's fine to cover up with a blanket, but a woman shouldn't be forced to," said her husband, Michael Ryan.
Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, who sponsored the breast-feeding protection bill, agrees.
"She was not treated right under the new law," he said. "There should have been no comment made to her at all; the restaurant overstepped its boundaries. There's no way they can explain their way out of this."
Thirty-nine states, including Kentucky, allow women to breast-feed in any public or private location.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for about the first six months and support for breast-feeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child. But according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 11 percent of mothers meet the six-month mark. Thirty percent breast-feed exclusively for the first three months. Kentucky's rates are 7.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively, according to a 2007 report.
Scanlon suggested that Ryan had an "agenda."
"I note with interest that she had a copy of the statute with her," he said. "I'm glad to let this become a matter that we can all learn from."
But if all Ryan wanted going into Applebee's was an anniversary lunch, she may indeed have an agenda now.
August is World Breast-feeding Awareness Month, and Ryan has organized two related public events:
• A "Nurse-In" at the children's play area at Fayette Mall from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Ryan says the mall is not a target, but has a place for kids to play.
• From noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 8, she is holding a "Nurse Out" with posters and breast-feeding in front of the Applebee's on Nicholasville Road.
She's also asking for a public apology from Applebee's and training for its employees about the rights of breast-feeding mothers. Some day, she says, she would like to see the international breast-feeding symbol of a mother and child in every restaurant that supports the practice.
"I'm not trying to be provocative," she said. "I want to teach."
Read comments from Kentucky.com [prospero.com]
Read comments from Fark.com [fark.com]
Reach Linda Blackford at (859) 231-1359 or [email protected].
EDIT: Added Polling Goodness!
Community Wiki
Last Edited by JayVee7777
September 11, 2007
at
09:38 PM
MOST.BIASED.POLL.EVAH
hmmm, she prolly needed 2 or 3 blankets
http://media.heraldlea
hmmm, she prolly needed 2 or 3 blankets
http://media.heraldlea
525 Comments
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be careful what you ask for.............
I legitimately think such things are deliberately ignored for the express purpose of furthering an agenda. I keep hearing the call to rally by BF mothers that they are being denied the option of breastfeeding. That is complete and utter bullshit.
They are being told that they have to have a modicum of respect for others, when engaging in this activity, and refuse to do so out of sheer obstinance. I do not think you should feed your child in a restroom, nor in a hot car. I also do not think it would be unreasonable to expect you to in the very least have a minimal amount of foresight and keep something that is light and will obscure view on your person. Women are not stupid, and have quite a bit of ingenuity, when they choose to. I think the refusal to have even the slightest bit of modesty is nothing more than anger at not being able to do things precisely the way they wish to, and deciding they are going to further their agenda, regardless of who they offend. Part of consideration is compromise. It would be an utter shame if it comes down to breast feeding being only possible without any discretion. It will completely change my stance personallly, on BF. I actually think BF is a good idea. But, if it is impossible for women to do and be respectful of others, I will begin to oppose the idea altogether.
YOU are the reason I carried the law in my diaper bag when I fed my child in public. Because blanket or no blanket there's always some idiot who's going to mouth off that it's disgusting.
Grow up.
PS..We took the kids to Disney 2 weeks ago for the day and major points to them!!! They are very ok with breastfeeding in public..and for those of us that are not as open, they have great baby stations
I truly believe that breastfeeding is natural and healthy, yet I don't have to believe that I should force complete strangers to look at it. Breastfeeding in public is kinda like watching a car wreck, we all know we should not look, but do anyway...
The bottom line is that the woman should have been more understanding instead of being so selfish. She could have EASILY covered herself with a jacket, sweater, towel, blanket, etc. while still breastfeeding. I'm a new father myself and you can't tell me that she didn't have a receiving blanket, towel, or something in her baby tote bag that she could have used. CERTAINLY, the restaurant did NOT prohibit her from breastfeeding. It ONLY asked her to show some decency for other patrons in the restaurant who may not like the idea of dining at a nudie bar.
As far as quoting state laws that prohibit interfering with a woman breastfeeding, let's see how fast the state authorities react if she was at a function with the President nearby and she just whipped out her breast to feed her baby. I'm CERTAIN they would ask her to show some restraint and etiquette and cover up or go into a private room.
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Me personally, my daughter was breastfed. She was born prematurely, she was just under five pounds and we concluded that breastfeeding was the best option for her health wise.
Pumping milk ahead of time is not as easy as some would like to make it out to be, it can be difficult and it can mess up your bodies schedule of producing, and as someone else mentioned nipple confusion can occur. I couldn't pump milk for my daughter, she would not eat from a bottle.
When it comes to my body, I am pretty shy, however when my daughter was hungry she was fed. That isnt to say I would just toss up my shirt and have at it. I was discreet about it, to be respectful to others who might take offense, while at that same time providing for the needs of my child. In situations that required it, I would find a more secluded location if possible to breastfeed, or if none was available, a light receiving blanket was used to shield my daughter from the public eye.
I had also come to notice that for the most part society is very understanding of the needs of a breastfeeding mother and their child. For example, when my daughter was only about a month old, we needed to purchase a new car, we had a pickup truck and since she was born prematurely, we had not completed the trade in/purchase of our new family vehicle yet.
While we were at the dealership, it was taking longer than we had expected and my daughter was hungry... it was in early March, it was cold out so going to our car was not an option. I explained to the salesman that my daughter needed to be fed, and asked if there was somewhere more secluded that I could feed her, as opposed to the dealer showroom where the salesmens desks were... LOL The manager allowed me to use his office, so that we had somewhere comfortable, clean and private to feed my child.
People for the most part are understanding. Now I have seen some mothers just fully expose themselves to the world and feed their child, in my personal opinion I think discretion is key, but I have no right to tell them to be more discreet as breastfeeding is their right.
For people who say that mothers should take their children to a bathroom to feed them, couch or no couch... I would politely suggest that you take your child with their plate of food/or bottle containing formula into that same bathroom and feed them.
Regardless of what your child is being fed, Bathrooms, no matter how clean they look are still teeming with bacteria, whether it be on surfaces, or in the air, I will not expose my child to that type of health risk, and neither should any parent, breastfeeding, or bottle feeding.
In my state, VT, preventing a nursing mother from breastfeeding her child in public, whether done discreetly, or not, is discrimination. Breastfeeding is not a vulgar bodily function, it is a precious gift from mother to child... it should not be treated as something vulgar as indecent exposure...
I can understand how some people can be bothered by it, which is why in those types of situations I would try to be discreet about it, but to make someone else more comfortable I should forfeit my right to breastfeed my child? that isn't acceptable in my opinion.
Just my 0.02
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A BETTER analogy would be a man walking into a restaurant without a shirt. The restaurant has every right to ask him to put on a shirt. It's his right to go shirtless. BUT, the restaurant has a right to maintain order in its restaurant. Likewise, no one is prohibiting the woman from breastfeeding. The restaurant only ask that ppl do it with some modesty.
By the way, pumping does NOT mess up your cycle to produce milk! If anything, it creates a constant cycle where you can pump every 2-3 hours (as with your baby's feeding schedule). Thus, it continues the production of milk. If women do not pump and their child isn't hungry for hours at a time, she may get engorged. This is VERY painful for women and can often send hormones to the brain to stop producing milk if it goes on for too long!
Also, ppl......what does the right of breastfeeding have to do with asking someone to cover up while doing it?!?!? It's everyone's right to urinate when they have to. But, society asks that they use the restroom if need be. Refusing to use discretion and courtesy is just a show of stubborn-ness, selfishness, and disregard for others....which is pretty prevalent in America.