Breastfeeding Moms Rally On Subways

As a part of World Breastfeeding Week, a number of mothers and their children took to the subways for the fifth annual Breastfeeding Mothers' Subway Caravan. The point of the caravan is to remind non-lactating people that breastfeeding on the subway is totally legal—the NYC Department of Health says, "In New York State, employers must provide time and a space to pump breast milk. Both New York City and New York State have laws that protect a woman's right to breastfeed in public."

One mother told NY1, "That's my baby's food. So my baby has got to eat whenever he needs it. I don't have to deny my baby because of what people say or will be looking at. I don't have to," while another explained to the Post that people usually don't pay attention when she happens to feed her baby while on the subway, "Most people are buried in their own magazines. Most will just smile and look away."

The Subway Caravan got started because a woman was issued a desk appearance ticket for breastfeeding in public; State Senator Liz Krueger, who has introduced the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights in Albany (it'll probably be signed by Governor Paterson soon), said, "What we need to do is support mommies to be able to feed their babies, on demand, any time their babies need to eat. It is a win-win for the children, the mothers and for us as a society." Tell that to the cops—who ticketed a breastfeeding mom whose car was parked (but not blocking anyone) in a commercial zone—and Ikea —which banished a breastfeeding mom to the bathroom!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 8, 2009 5:25 PM

Comments [rss]

snickerdoodle

Another pointless "protest" brought to us by the self-absorbed nazi lactactors who think they're special and privileged because their baby is nursing.

slny

IKEA for example, has a partition in their dining area for breastfeeding.

yytttt

Where's the mouth on titty shot, gothamist? whats the matter, makes you uncomfortable?

GREGORYABUTLER

[Homer Simpson voice] "Mmmmmm, boobies!" [/Homer Simpson voice]

dadoc

Don't particularly notice hoards of breast-feeding women feeding their babes all over. But the times I have (including out with my kids), it's been a no-big-dealer. Guess those who "feel uncomfortable" have never been to a beach in France, Tahiti etc. We're all naked underneath our Ipods & American Apparels, no biggy. If that's the worst you have to deal with during your day, you're a lucky ducky. Chill.

casuallyobscene

A mans nipple looks much different than a lactating one... People don't agree with you. Don't get offended. Grow up. It's a fact of life, just like me having to see your drippy nipple. Pretty sure I'm on the losing end.

Elm Street

Ultra conservatives happen to have all huge egos, yet small brains and dongs; said by the 99% male oriented comments.

ides_of_march

Look at me, look at me, I have boobs! Hooray!

Attention seekers.

Spirit of 76

Don't you mean you are a boob? Actually, we know that you ultraconservatives not only want women to not nurse on the subway, you don't even want them on the subway. The little woman should be barefoot and pregnant at home, right?

EastRiver

The little woman should be barefoot and pregnant at home, right?

No. Nobody said that. We all know that you're to dumb to put together an actual argument so you have to resort to putting words in people's mouths and then attacking them. Isn't that the definition of straw man?

casuallyobscene

While I understand that it is perfectly legal, I don't enjoy going about my usual daily business and seeing a nipple. As a woman, it just makes me uncomfortable. Why don't I have a right not to see this? Don't say look away either, because most of the time I see it without warning. Pump your milk. Put it in a bottle. That's respectful. It's like going into a restaurant and eating topless.

Spirit of 76

Aaagh! A nipple! Saints preserve us! Meanwhile, if a man bares his, like the Naked Cowboy does every day, you wouldn't bat a eye. Hey, if you really want to get upset about something, how about when a handyman flashes you with butt crack? What about thongs on beaches? Or fat men in Speedos? Or even just string bikinis? They're so tiny yet as long as the nipple doesn't show, you're okay with it. You remind me of the edict NBC gave to the costume designer for Star Trek back in the 1960s. For women's costumes, they could show as much boob as they want -- except for the nipples and the undersides. The tops and sides were fine. Unlimited cleavage was no problem.

Gothamist_Cynic

Are these moms stupid? No wonder I always see a lot moms letting their kids lick subway train seats, poles, and windows.

FutureMan83

If you don't mind that I'm looking at your/your wife's naked breasts in public, then I guess I don't mind either.

Christina

It's weird, it's unnecessary and it's ARROGANT.

bluefortytwo

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Tamar Weinberg

"Tell that to the cops—who ticketed a breastfeeding mom whose car was parked (but not blocking anyone) in a commercial zone"

C'mon Jen. Like I said in the other post's comments, that wasn't about breastfeeding. It was about someone who tried to use a lousy excuse to not pay a perfectly legal ticket.

If my 2 month old was crying, I would find a legal spot in which to breastfeed him. I wouldn't cry about a perfectly legal parking ticket for parking in a perfectly illegal spot.

We really should go at cops who do a disservice to the rest of us by breaking laws, not at cops who do the right thing by enforcing the law.

valeriob

I completely agree with the drama seeking angle. After all their hormones are bouncing off the wall and they're on maternity leave. What else are they going to be doing? Oprah is only on once a day and The View became unbearable back when Star Jones started eating the guests.

moonbeam

another explained to the Post that people usually don't pay attention when she happens to feed her baby while on the subway, "Most people are buried in their own magazines. Most will just smile and look away."

Exactly. I breast fed 2 children and never had any problems whatsoever. None. If you're discreet and respectful, very few people even notice. These crazy attention seekers are just manufacturing drama.

Spirit of 76

Only because you never breastfed around Dead Himmler, ides_of_march or Eastriver. Then you would have gotten the Evil Eye and an earful.