Mothers stage nurse-in at Cedar Rapids mall

On this Mother's Day, a group of women with infants stood up for their rights as nursing mothers.  And they made their point in a very public way at a Cedar Rapids mall.

Sunday afternoon's “nurse-in” at Lindale Mall was prompted by an incident involving one woman and her young son last week.  Bonnie McCall, 24, said she was feeding her five-week-old son Nolan at a Lindale Mall play area when a security guard suggested she go to a private family restroom to breastfeed instead.  McCall refused, citing a state law that allows a woman to breastfeed her own child in any public place where the woman's presence is otherwise allowed.

McCall said mall management apologized to her in an e-mail later and said security officers would be told that nursing mothers don't have to go to a separate lounge area.  The mall also promised to improve that area for nursing mothers who do want to use it.

Still, McCall said she was unhappy enough to suggest nursing mothers make an issue of the problem and ignorance about the law.  And several dozen nursing mothers with infants, and older children, did just that.

Participants at the nurse-in gathered at the same play area where McCall had her earlier problem.  They sat on benches and talked and nursed their children both to send a message to those who control public spaces about the rights of nursing mothers and also to show support for women who breastfeed their children as a choice.

McCall said “I hope  it's made a point-our babies can eat everywhere we can.”

Stephanie Fillingham drove 160 from McComb, Illinois as a Mother's Day present to herself to join the nurse-in rally.  ”It's what we've done for thousands of years and I don't see anything wrong with it-I don't see why we should be made to feel uncomfortable to do it,” Fillingham said.

Tahirah Elliott of Waterloo also drove to Cedar Rapids to take part in the nurse-in.  Like Fillingham, she has never felt discriminated against in nursing in a public place.  But, like many nursing mothers, she's also heard horror stories.

“I think it's important for all the women to know they can nurse-it makes it something they might actually consider doing,” Elliott added.

McCall said after a story aired on KCRG-TV9 last week, and got repeated on the internet and social media sites, she heard from many strangers who supported her standing up for nursing rights.  In fact, McCall said the e-mails came from 26 states and nine foreign countries.

-Dave Franzman, KCRG-TV9 News

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