This will turn out well.

[panicked]

Thoughts?

Attachments:

[meltoine]

Lolololol

Oh dear Lord the backlash that will come from this good luck violating federal and state law, Mountain Home AFB.

[meltoine]

I kind of want to e-mail this guy and ask him if he's aware that this memo is in violation of federal and state law and politely suggest that he walk it back before the shitstorm ensues. Probably overreaching, but it's a strong urge right now.

[pennylane]

Ohhh boy.

[panicked]

I would LOVE to see the shitstorm that will ensue when they demand a mother move or cover up.

[dcn]

Just no.

I am just trying to imagine some douche canoe telling me I had to go to another room to nurse my screaming 2 month old after his vaccinations.

Is this real?

[ggirl]

Apr 22, 2015 11:41:13 GMT -5 Stan said:

OMFG

No. No. No. No.

If I'm being 100% honest, breastfeeding boobs make me a little uncomfortable. BUT THAT IS ON ME TO GET THE F OVER. And this colonel. Fucking commanders sometimes man.

Normal, and I say this as a person currently bfeeding lol. I use a cover in public because I want to and it makes me comfortable. But, also, c'mon. Who the fuck is it distracting? It's not like I am flashing my boobs around because I want the sex. No. I don't even want people to touch me nowadays because there is always a baby on me. If someone finds that attractive, again, that's on them, not me.

[Deleted]

Yikes. I used to work there. This will NOT go over well.

[Dory1988]

I guess since I've never had a baby I just don't see what the big deal is about either covering or going in a room specifically for nursing. I thought the same thing when the federal laws about BF were big news. I don't see the big deal with getting one of those fancy covers and making life more pleasant for a bunch of weirdos that are afraid of boobs. Maybe I just need to care more about stuff In general...IDK.

[meltoine]

Apr 22, 2015 12:17:35 GMT -5 Dory1988 said:

I guess since I've never had a baby I just don't see what the big deal is about either covering or going in a room specifically for nursing. I thought the same thing when the federal laws about BF were big news. I don't see the big deal with getting one of those fancy covers and making life more pleasant for a bunch of weirdos that are afraid of boobs. Maybe I just need to care more about stuff In general...IDK.

A lot of babies don't tolerate covers. They rip them off or cry instead of nursing. 

What if you forget it? Women should have to be segregated from society in a private room just to feed their kids. It's insulting. 

[dcn]

Apr 22, 2015 12:17:35 GMT -5 Dory1988 said:

I guess since I've never had a baby I just don't see what the big deal is about either covering or going in a room specifically for nursing. I thought the same thing when the federal laws about BF were big news. I don't see the big deal with getting one of those fancy covers and making life more pleasant for a bunch of weirdos that are afraid of boobs. Maybe I just need to care more about stuff In general...IDK.

Well, my baby HATED the cover and wouldn't nurse under one. I don't really blame him, it was hot and stuffy under there.

Sometimes you have other kids with you and it is just a pain in the ass to gather all of your stuff up and go into another room.

I usually tried to find a quiet out of the way place to nurse, mostly because my baby got distracted easily, but.....he's eating.  There isn't anything gross or indecent about it.  And you can't even see much boob?  At least I've never really seen any when I've noticed other moms breastfeeding. 

Before I had a nursing baby I didn't get it either, but I quickly understood the first time I had a screaming hungry baby in public.  I wasn't about to make him wait another few minutes so that I could find another room.   

[ggirl]

it is fucking hot under the cover and I use a nice lightweight cotton one. Both Nora and I sweat when I use it. Again, I use it because I want to, but if I forgot it and my kid needed to eat, well shit happens.

[amaristella]

You want a nurse in? Because that is how you get a nurse in.

Source: Mother who doesn't cover.

[ggirl]

Also. I can count on one hand the amount of times I've seen people nursing without covers. Is there a fucking epidemic going around where women are just stripping naked to feed their kids that this memo even needs to happen. I mean. Cmon. I want the staff at this base to actually count how often it happened. I'm guessing none can even remember when it does.

[betsyfromdc]

Wow....is this letter legit? I can't imagine the systemic breakdown that occurred to get such a stupid letter signed. These letters go through so many layers of bureauocrazy before they are signed too. I just looked up to see who the wing/cc's legal advisor is, and it's a female JAG with two kids of her own. I can only hope he ran this by public affairs and the legal office before signing it.

Like ggirl said, there isn't exactly an epidemic of nekkid breastfeeders on bases...the culture alone is enough to make even the crunchiest of us feel like we need to sit in a corner and face the wall to nurse.
C'mon Mountain Home.

[meltoine]

Ok... I submitted an anonymous request for clarification through their "commander's hotline". I'll update if I hear anything.

[meltoine]

Apr 22, 2015 12:37:39 GMT -5 amaristella said:

You want a nurse in? Because that is how you get a nurse in.

Source: Mother who doesn't cover.

They're one of the few bases with an organized breastfeeding support group. I mean c'mon. I hope the leaders of the group are all over this. 

[amaristella]

Apr 22, 2015 12:30:26 GMT -5 dcn said:

Apr 22, 2015 12:17:35 GMT -5 Dory1988 said:

I guess since I've never had a baby I just don't see what the big deal is about either covering or going in a room specifically for nursing. I thought the same thing when the federal laws about BF were big news. I don't see the big deal with getting one of those fancy covers and making life more pleasant for a bunch of weirdos that are afraid of boobs. Maybe I just need to care more about stuff In general...IDK.

Well, my baby HATED the cover and wouldn't nurse under one. I don't really blame him, it was hot and stuffy under there.

Sometimes you have other kids with you and it is just a pain in the ass to gather all of your stuff up and go into another room.

I usually tried to find a quiet out of the way place to nurse, mostly because my baby got distracted easily, but.....he's eating.  There isn't anything gross or indecent about it.  And you can't even see much boob?  At least I've never really seen any when I've noticed other moms breastfeeding. 

Before I had a nursing baby I didn't get it either, but I quickly understood the first time I had a screaming hungry baby in public.  I wasn't about to make him wait another few minutes so that I could find another room.   

100%. All of that. I had A in Hawaii and you couldn't pay me to use a cover when we were outdoors on a hot day. And believe me I wasn't going to spend my whole time in Hawaii indoors so that nobody would happen to notice me feeding my child.

[dcn]

It was rescinded!

www.mountainhome.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123446020

4/23/2015 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The 366th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. David Iverson, has issued the following official statement regarding the recent policy letter on breastfeeding in public spaces on-base.

"Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention. I respect and appreciate all of the comments and feedback I have received so far regarding this issue.

"I believe breastfeeding mothers have the right to breastfeed in public. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-76 Section 722) protects a mother's right to breastfeed in any location on federal property. However, it does not address one way or another the manner in which one may breastfeed.

I better understand the concerns regarding breastfeeding in public and am sorry individuals were offended. The policy was not intended to ostracize anyone and I regret it had that effect. I will revoke this policy while we look for a better way to accommodate and be respectful of all individuals in our community."

[amaristella]

Didn't make it a week. Good.

"Sorry individuals were offended" My ass. You have to be pretty dense to not understand how asking someone to get up and leave if they don't comply would be offensive.

[Aquatica]

Seeing this makes me want to check policies at the current duty station!

I find it sad that mothers should have to cover up a natural bodily function. When animals do it, it's "sooo cuttteeee!" but when people do it's gross? Grow up.

[amaristella]

Apr 23, 2015 15:49:27 GMT -5 Aquatica said:

Seeing this makes me want to check policies at the current duty station!

I find it sad that mothers should have to cover up a natural bodily function. When animals do it, it's "sooo cuttteeee!" but when people do it's gross? Grow up.

People are funny. I was at the zoo watching monkeys (I don't know, some kind of primate) swinging around. Everyone was in awe at the one with the little baby hanging off her. And one guy goes "wow, she must get tired carrying around that baby all the time". And I said for him to hear, "well, she's probably just used to it." He turned and looked back at me with 1.5 year old A in my Tula and after a second he laughed.

And I have breastfed uncovered at zoos before because I figure they already have notices up about animals doing animal things so if you're that much bothered by stuff maybe the zoo isn't your place. Although my new zoo has the nicest baby care area with a fan to circulate air and everything. I will definitely use it whenever I need to.

[Aquatica]

Apr 27, 2015 11:36:32 GMT -5 Stan said:

Apr 23, 2015 15:49:27 GMT -5 Aquatica said:

Seeing this makes me want to check policies at the current duty station!

I find it sad that mothers should have to cover up a natural bodily function. When animals do it, it's "sooo cuttteeee!" but when people do it's gross? Grow up.

It's another way society tells women we should be ashamed to be women. That's why even though I find childbearing and breastfeeding personally (and stupidly) disconcerting, I'll fight for this issue all day long, because my dumb personal issues aside, this is a feminist fight, and I'll always take up that guidon.

I absolutely agree. Since this was rescinded, I want to make sure there are no other policies like this in my area.