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Is this legal? Breastfeeding ban in family court!

102 replies

Aero · 18/04/2008 22:57

Unbelievable!

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 19/04/2008 18:21

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edam · 19/04/2008 19:04

Good! Yes, I imagine you don't want kids to be in court if it can possibly be avoided.

frasersmummy · 19/04/2008 19:22

sorry ladies I have checked my facts and you are right the law on breastfeeding is different up here in sunny scotland.

I didnt realise the law was dfferent..

chipkid · 19/04/2008 19:41

If the hearing is a contested hearing involving witnesses giving evidence etc. It really is difficult to imagine how this can be properly conducted with a small baby in attendance.

It seems to me that there are two choices-either delay the hearing for a short period-until such times as the child is partially weaned/or expressing is easier.

Or make sure that there is somebody sitting outside of Court with the baby-and allow time for breaks for breastfeeding to occur.

I wonder how much attention this mother would actually give however if she was aware of her unsettled child in the corridor!

cupsoftea · 20/04/2008 10:28

shocking - what's their problem with having a mum bf? Good that she's standing up to protect her childs need to bf (even her doc supports her - so they are ignoring medical advice).

cupsoftea · 20/04/2008 10:29

bf is more than just milk - it's the comfort as well. Her baby could be completely quite during the court as it would be suckling and then sleeping.

StealthPolarBear · 20/04/2008 10:30

How would the courts handle someone with a 'disruptive' medical condition? I can't think of an example, and maybe didn't phrase that very well, but, say diabetic who has to eat very regularly...bad example, can anyone help me here??

Spero · 20/04/2008 12:46

Rubbish to the argument that 'this is a court, can't possibly have any normal human behaviour here'.

Sigh. in a court setting you have to be able to ask questions, hear the answers and often write down what you hear. this is impossible with a screaming baby. Believe me, I've tried.

For those of you whose breastfeeding babies are angelic little lovelies, great for you. But what of the baby who picks up on his/her mother's stress, starts crying and won't stop? Hearing has to be ajourned, may not get another date for ages, someone is in the middle of their evidence, very, very stressful and undesirable for all concerned.

and by the way family courts aren't 'secret'. they are 'private'. And if you heard some of the awful stuff that gets routinely aired you would understand why. i'm all for openness when it is appropriate, but just HOW is it appropriate for all the gory mucky details of domestic violence, sexual abuse etc to be aired in open court -so that the children in question can be identified in local press??

I'm trying hard to think of a 'disruptive medical condition' that would have same impact on adversarial court proceedings (where evidence is given ORALLY and needs to be heard and taped).... er, can't think of one. Short adjournments are all very well but a baby can be unpredicatable and sometimes inconsolable.

Breast feeding and the adversarial court system just don't mix happily. This is not an attack on the sacred right of the breast feeding mother but a recognition of reality.

FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 12:47

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Spero · 20/04/2008 12:51

Mostly my clients have the baby in the waiting room near by with a friend or family member. i think four weeks old was youngest. Managed perfectly well in his cot for about an hour while his mum gave evidence. She fed him just before she went in and just after she came out.

FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 12:51

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Spero · 20/04/2008 12:54

Thanks icod. that's what I'm thinking but don't have the courage to come out and say. if your baby can't go for an hour without a feed isn't this a bit unusual?

onepieceoflollipop · 20/04/2008 12:54

I was on jury service once and one of the other jurors actually got up right in the middle of proceedings and said very loudly to the judge "I need a pee" (I am not making this up). The judge was very in fact I think everyone was.

The judge made the usher have very strong words with the whole jury about how best to conduct themselves in court. The woman herself was highly amused by the kerfuffle she had caused. Most 11 week old babies would behave better than this imo.

FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 12:55

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ImflightbutIcantlogintoday · 20/04/2008 12:56

The baby has feeding problems and thus, yes, does need almost constant access.

LittleBella · 20/04/2008 12:58

Yes spero and cod, it is unusual.

That's why her GP has written a letter about it.

ImflightbutIcantlogintoday · 20/04/2008 12:58

Yes but the litle girl isn't even 3mo old.

Why would they object to a baby being fed, what a crock.

Spero · 20/04/2008 12:59

But what kind of feeding problem? A problem with latching on? Isn't he/she 11 weeks old?
I'm genuinely curious.

FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 12:59

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FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 13:01

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Spero · 20/04/2008 13:02

While i've got my bravery button on I might just add it is this attitude that it is 'shocking' to expect a woman not to breastfeed for an hour or so was one of the things that turned me right off breastfeeding.

FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 13:03

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FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 13:03

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Spero · 20/04/2008 13:08

iCod will you marry me?

FluffyMummy123 · 20/04/2008 13:09

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