Dark Bilious Vapors

Apropos of my earlier post on Illinois protections for breast-feeding mothers is this Chicago Tribune follow up States offer varying protections for breast-feeding moms by Alison Neumer.

"Barbara Walters isn't the only one who freaks out around women who breast-feed--recently, the TV host said she felt "very nervous" sitting next to a nursing mother on a plane--but that's where the law steps in.

Two-thirds of all states provide some type of protection for mothers who breast-feed in public. In Illinois, women have the right to breast-feed their children in any public or private location. So there, Babs.

But nursing moms planning to travel this summer, beware: Not all our neighbors are quite as chill. Some states provide only minimal protection, such as exemption from public indecency laws.

For a full state-by-state index of breast-feeding laws, check out National Conference of State Legislatures, ncsl.org, or La Leche League International, lalecheleague.org.

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STATE: ILLINOIS

YEAR PASSED: 2004

LAW SAYS: A mother may breast-feed her infant in any public or private location where she is legally permitted to be.

A 2001 statute requires employers to provide unpaid break time for mothers who need to express milk. Employers also must make an effort to provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, where a woman may express milk.

STATE: INDIANA

YEAR PASSED: 2003

LAW SAYS: A woman may breast-feed anywhere she is legally permitted to be.

STATE: MICHIGAN

YEAR PASSED: 1994

LAW SAYS: Women breast-feeding their infants are exempt from public nudity laws.

STATE: WISCONSIN

YEAR PASSED: 1995

LAW SAYS: Breast-feeding mothers are exempt from indecency laws."

Karen on 06.15.05 @ 01:55 PM CST