October 11, 2007Legitimate request? Or is she milking it?When it comes to breast-feeding, I'm in league with a quiet sect of men -- and women: It grosses me out. Not the idea of mothers bonding with their babies and providing them nutrition and other natural goodies for healthy, growing bodies. But the act of them doing so, anywhere in my visual range. I am not a mother, I've never nursed, and I've never jumped out of bed for a 3 a.m. feeding. With that full disclosure, my gender as well as my professional (if not maternal) instincts entitle me to weigh in on the so-called breast-feeding dilemma of a mother attending Harvard Medical School. The details of the case are as follows: Sophie Currier, who already has a Ph.D. from Harvard, sued the National Board of Medical Examiners so she could get extra break time during her daylong medical licensing exam to pump breast milk. A judge ordered the medical board, which administers the test, to add 60 minutes of break time to the standard 45 minutes of allotted breaks for Currier during the nine-hour test. Let me stop and say I applaud the fact that she breast-feeds her child. But a couple of things bother me about the 33-year-old mother of two, who was scheduled to take the exam Wednesday and today. Why not take the test at another time if it interferes with nursing her 4-month-old daughter? A spokeswoman for the exam board told The Boston Globe that scheduling is very flexible. Currier rejected that idea. She's behind schedule because she failed the test this spring when she was eight months pregnant. More than anything, though, Currier seems to be milking her situation a bit. She's not the ideal poster child for a woman's right to nurse. The board already has allotted Currier two days instead of one to complete the test because she has dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. An extra day, she said, doubled her breast-feeding problems. Before Currier sued the board, exam officials refused to give her extra break time to pump her milk, saying the test provides special accommodations only for disabilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Currier countered that though breast-feeding wasn't a disability, it is physically taxing. "What am I going to do, express milk all over your computer?" she asked a board official. I could have done without the imagery. A judge agreed with her and ruled that she needed the extra time to be on "equal footing" with male and non-lactating female test takers. Otherwise, the judge said, Currier would have to either "use her break time to incompletely express breast milk and ignore her bodily functions, or abdicate her decision to express breast milk, resulting in significant pain." To make sense of Currier's case, I consulted with two Roanoke experts. Tammy Braaten, 34, breast-fed all four of her children -- ages 4, 5, 7 and 8, and is a local La Leche League leader; and Terrisa Vaughn, 30, breast-fed the younger two of her three boys, ages 6, 2 and 1. "Here is a breast-feeding mom that needs extra time to provide milk for her baby," Tammy said firmly. She noted that some women express milk more slowly than others. "That is a legitimate thing," Tammy said. "There are some women who can pump a ton of milk in five minutes." Others, she shared, say, "I'm pumping and I'm pumping and I'm not getting any milk." My friend, Terrisa, said Currier "did seem like she was kind of trying to get everything she can get. From the other perspective," Terrisa quickly added, "I know how it is to be full. It's painful." She doesn't know Tammy but agreed that women pump milk at different rates. Pumps are different and affect the amount of milk and the speed at which it is expressed, Terrisa said. I had to come clean with my friend and admit to her that when she breast-fed in my presence it "freaked me out." That's OK, she said in her calm tone. "I used to feel the same way. It kind of freaked me out ... until I started." |
About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
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Comments
[October 11, 2007 10:26 AM]
AndreaShanna:
Sorry, but your friends are right, you don't know what you are talking about. I've breastfed three children (now 10, 6 and 3) while working full-time as a journalist. I've had the pleasure of pumping and it isn't easy. I think the woman in this case was asking for a legitimate accomodation. I'm glad that she got it.
[October 11, 2007 11:04 AM]
Betty PannellFor the life of me, I cannot unserstand why people get so freaked out over something as natural as breastfeeding a baby. People, that's what breasts were designed for. Not to flaunt and show the world- to feed infants. Granted it should be done modestly but it is not shameful.
[October 11, 2007 12:29 PM]
RandallAs a resident physician and someone who took this exam two years ago, I am completely appalled by this story. First of all, she already failed the test once, when she wasn't breast feeding. While the test isn't particularly easy, 95% of test takers pass the exam on the first try. At well-respected medical schools, the pass rate is over 99%. She was then granted two days to take the test and now wants extra break time. This is completely absurd. Most test takers finish this exam a couple hours early and never use all of their break time. During my exam, I had so much accumulated break time that I took a nap in my car during one break and drove around downtown Roanoke during another break. I am a huge proponent of breast feeding and a woman's right to pump; however, it just looks like this woman is trying to game the system. I think a lot of people are overlooking the very important fact that this test tries to ensure that you have a baseline level of competency and knowledge before continuing training.
[October 11, 2007 1:58 PM]
Christy FoleyShanna, I'm disappointed. I usually agree with your columns. I can't believe that the 2nd line of your column states that you are grossed out by breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is best for babies. And as the last poster says, that is what breasts are for. And I believe that the woman deserves time to pump. If she doesn't have adequate time to pump she will be very uncomfortable. And I think it is unreasonable to assume she should take the test another time. Shanna, I recommend you attend a few Le Leche League meetings. You will learn about the benefits and challenges of breastfeeding, as well as being in a comfortable enviroment where you can be exposed to women breastfeeding their babies. I breastfed my son for 15 months and it was a wonderful bonding time for us. I, also, pumped at work every day. I look forward to breastfeeding my next baby.
[October 11, 2007 5:41 PM]
DeniseI am appalled at your comments describing breastfeeding as "gross". Are you "grossed out" by calves, sheep, piglets and puppies getting nourishment in the most natural way, or is it just women? We are fortunate that God provided women a way to feed our children, if not for that, our species would never have survived to see the invention of formula. Oh, and you may want to steer clear of less industrialized countries, as you may find the gross factor to be overwhelming, as women in those countries tend to be quite uninhibited when it comes to feeding their children.
[October 11, 2007 6:18 PM]
TPetersonCongratulations Shanna, you have done it again. You were able to write about a subject that you have absolutely no knowledge about. You may mention in your article that this mother may feel “significant pain” if she does not breastfeed every two or three hours, but you fail to mention the she could suffer blocked ducts or mastitis.
What you also do not mention is that 47 states have already passed laws that protect nursing mothers. Many protect the right of mothers to breastfeed in public, and some even exempt them from jury duty, where breaks can be few and unpredictable. Massachusetts has no such laws.
And Randall, while I congratulate you on passing your boards the first time, I do not expect that you were raising a small child, pregnant with another, combining an MD/PhD program, while suffering from dyslexia and attention deficit disorder.
[October 12, 2007 3:45 AM]
BeckyIt's opinions like this that made it incredibly difficult for me to feel comfortable going to my supervisor after the birth of my son to request a place to pump milk during my work day. I wound up relegated to a freezing, dank broom closet among the stink of a dirty mop and bucket because of my shame and discomfort. No wonder I had post-partum depression. You should be ashamed of yourself for propogating it. I don't care if this lady is a terrible student -- by presenting the argument this way, you've set local women back a ways.
[October 12, 2007 8:15 AM]
Jennifer James : →http://www.blackbreastfeeding.blogspot.comI have to agree with the other commenters. Breastfeeding isn't gross. It's natural.
As a black mother and breastfeeding advocate I am disappointed in your comments.
[October 12, 2007 9:03 AM]
AmyWhile I don't have any children, when I do have them, I plan on breast feeding. However, that doesn't mean that I will force others to watch me. I've been eating dinner in restaurants when women pull out a breast and feed their baby at the table. All I would ask for is some common courtesy. Using the restroom is natural too, but I don't know anyone who do that whenever and wherever they want.
On the note of the mother taking the exam, maybe they should see if she can pass the exam with all the amendments. If she can't, maybe it's not the breast feeding and multiple other amendments holding her back. If she passes, congrats to her. It's wonderful to see anyone, male or female, succeed.
One more thought- what if a single father was taking the test? Can he have extra time to check on his child?
[October 12, 2007 10:34 AM]
TPetersonAmy, as much as I do not want to promote Shanna’s article, I think you may need to reread it. Your comments have nothing to do with the point of this article. This is not a debate about breastfeeding in public. This woman could suffer medical emergencies if she does not breastfeed every two to three hours. For you to compare that to a man checking on his child is absolutely ridiculous. Instead of spending your time worrying about mothers breastfeeding at restaurants while you are there, maybe you should spend your time in some rhetoric courses.
[October 12, 2007 12:36 PM]
DIt's her OPINION! If she thinks it's gross then so be it! I've seen cases on court tv where a fist fight took place b/c of a mom breast feeding her baby in a restaurant. To each is own! I am a mom and breastfeed my baby.....it's natural but personal as well. I agree with the other commenter...going to the bathroom is natural but, it's also personal! No matter what the column is about, people are going to have something positive or negative to say..... you can't please everyone. If you don't like it, stop reading it OR get your credentials to write columns with her!
[December 1, 2007 4:31 PM]
Lynn Ellen McCutchen ThompsonHi Shanna,
I absolutely agree with your comments on breastfeeding in public. It is very rude and distasteful to see a mother breastfeed in public, whether covering herself, or not. I actually was a dating a very nice man whose daughter would breastfeed in front of everyone, whether it was at home or out in public. She let her child breastfeed way past the "normal" age for doing so, even allowing him to pull up her shirt in public and proceed to nurse for just a minute, or so, even after eating the same food as adults, and with a glass of milk in front of him. Consequently, it was one of the reasons I stopped going out with this man. I applaud your honesty and willingness to express what a lot of folks don't want to say, because they are afraid they will offend a friend or relative.
[January 4, 2008 4:31 PM]
DLPoffBreastfeeding is a wonderful thing, but not in public, please.
[January 6, 2008 10:38 AM]
M. R-CampbellNot in public? Where do you suggest we go to feed our hungry babies if we are not near home?
A dirty public restroom? Do you eat your meals in a bathroom stall?
I can understand being offended at someone who FULLY exposes thier breast and is in no way discreet. I have never encountered anyone in public who has unreasonably exposed themselves while nursing. I was able to nurse 2 childrens over MANY months discreetly.
What will it take for people to understand that breastfeeding is what breasts were designed for?
[February 8, 2008 11:00 PM]
B. PerkinsIt bothers me that women have to do the juggling act of feeding their babies and making sure that every part of their breast is covered. If you don't like to see breastfeeding mothers, maybe the onus should be on the bystander doing nothing to avert your eyes. Breasts should be viewed primarily as a method to feed our young. That they are instead viewed as a sexual object that must be covered at all costs contribute to the low rates of breast feeding, despite the documented evidence of how much healthier it is for babies.
[February 18, 2008 11:34 PM]
Stephanie H.I would venture to say that most people, 98% have not noticed the nursing mother around them. I notice because I am one and I love to see these women do what comes naturally. WHAT ELSE WERE BREAST MADE FOR? We made them sexual.
[March 7, 2008 2:15 PM]
ShannonI don't think breast-feeding is gross. It isn't for me, I have had two children, and couldn't do it. But I certainly applaud anyone who does. But I have found myself in two separate instances, out to eat, and a breast feeding mother pulls up her blouse and starts feeding her child. I think as long as it is discreet. I don't mind knowing you are doing it...but I don't want to see your breast, or try to explain to my 4 year old what you are doing with your breast hanging out.
[May 19, 2008 12:05 AM]
ElizabethWhen my first daughter arrived, I wanted desperately to breast feed her. She had a ltaching problem, and I could not compress milk with a manual pump. So for six months, for every feeding I used a rented medical grade pump to produce every feeding she had. It hurt, it made me frustrated and I spent almost every second of the day either pumping or feeding my daughter. I quit working at the time,because despite of my work's willingness to accommodate me, I just couldn't keep up with her demand for food long enough to have any productivity at my job. I just wanted her to have the best food for her. When my second daughter arrived, milk only came in one breast, but my daughter could latch and so I fed her, wherever she wanted to eat, whenever it was time, because I was not going to ever express another bottle of milk again. and there is nothing that any grossed out person could think or feel about me that can change my mind. It is my opinion that the problem isn't the breast feeding, it's that we care to much about what others think of us. I don't particularly think that it matters to the point of the article that Shanna is grossed out by breast feeding. It seemed more like an aside to me. However, in most states, it is the law that the rights of a breast feeding mother should be protected, as it is the law that people with disabilities should be given special accommodation for documented disabilities. Obviously, she has proven to someone's satisfaction that she has the disabilities she claims to have or they wouldn't allow her the two days. She may be a faker, but that isn't proven here. However, to the person who suggested that she take her exam another time, this is probably not within her life plan. Personally, I know that I cannot have any more children because I am finishing my undergrad degree (I'm 35) this year, and then my masters just in time for my littlest to begin kindergarten. Than i have to start earning in order for us to survive. I have been in school since 2001, trying to get my degree finished while I care for two small children and work nights. If I dont get accepted to graduate school on the first try, I'm not going. i can't come back and do it again later when it is more convenient, because when you have a child there is never a more convenient time. It sure does sound like she's trying to even her odds, but what the heck are you going to yell at her while she does it? Hey, that dyslexic woman with ADD is trying to use breast feeding as an excuse for longer breaks! Make her get infections so its just as hard for her as it is for me. That just sounds crazy....
[May 21, 2008 3:32 AM]
jpetersi think people should rememeber just to be modest about the whoole thing. If you werent nursing you wouldnt have your breasts exposed for the world to seem, would you?