There has been a flurry of conversations going on about the woman who was recently arrested for nursing her 6-week-old while intoxicated. According to the article, “Officers arrested the woman, who later pleaded guilty to child neglect and faces up to five years in prison. Now her case has touched off a debate among moms about breast-feeding, alcohol — and privacy.” Read the complete story here.

Back in 2006 May and I did a little happy hour experiment we called the “Breastalyzer Test” with a box of Milkscreen test strips that measure alcohol in breastmilk. (The things we’ll do for the sake of the blog…) You can read the full post here.
Our conclusion? If you feel tipsy - don’t breastfeed. Just use common sense, combined with time, moderation and a back up plan.

What are your thoughts on the subject of breastfeeding and alcohol?

Gail Rosenblum’s article “Feuding over Breastfeeding” ran in this past Saturday’s Variety section. Thanks to those of you Cribsheeters who answered her inquiry and either commented or contacted Gail to share your opinions and personal insights on the Facebook matter. Your thoughts on the issue were valuable in her construction of the story.

Relationships Reporter, Gail Rosenblum is working on an article stemming from the “Facebook Breastfeeding Photo Controversy”
read more here and here. She asked to tap into the wealth of opinions from our insightful readers.
Here’s her query:

Photos of breastfeeding mothers on Facebook: Adorable or obscene? It’s no secret that Americans are highly conflicted (confused? Crazy?) about women’s breasts. What interests me, though, is the quiet war that seems to be playing out under the radar between women – those who support breastfeeding and those who find it offensive. I’d love to speak with women (mothers and others) of a variety of ages about this: Where do you fall on this debate? Are you supportive of a woman’s right to breastfeed without limits? Or with some discretion? Or would you just rather she use a bottle? If relevant, how does your own mother (grandmother) feel about this issue? Please forward this to others who might like to chime in.

Write to Gail at grosenblum@startribune.com.

May and I were very appreciative of our Star Tribune lactation room - a nondescript room with a key pad entry that we tried to keep as homey as possible. Stacks of magazines, photos of our kids and a legal pad to share our ups and downs. This was the place where Cribsheet evolved. We just received a note in our in-box from D who is hoping for the same type of space from her employer.

Hi - This is my first time writing and I’m thinking the Cribsheet blog would make for a good research test for me. I’ve got an 8 mo. old and have been back at work for over four months now and pumping every day. I sometimes joke that I definitely have more dates with the pump than I do with my hubby. We do not have a dedicated nursing room at my workplace, but I am allowed to use our sick room, provided it is not already in use. I was never thrilled with the idea of using a “sick” room to pump milk for my baby since the primary reason I’m bfing is for the nutritional value, but I’ve sucked it up because its the only private room around. I’ve often run into the dillema that the room is in use, which means I’ve had to find alternative spaces, usually a supply closet that is fairly uncomfortable and without a chair. So after months of pumping, I’ve finally decided to solicit other supporters at work and write a letter to HR asking for a dedicated nursing moms room. I’m curious if anyone knows of any studies or market data out there that support or indicate that a growing number of workplaces are providing this type of space (one would hope?)…or if others would be willing to antecdotal or if others would be willing to write in and indicate if their workplaces offer a dedicated space for this purpose and/or what else is provided (fridge, sofa, and I’ve even heard some workplaces provide a hospital grade pump). I’d like to bring a request forward in my workplace with some additional background research to support the idea.

D

Well - first of all there is this Minnesota Statute regarding nursing mothers in the workplace that I shared with D.

Has anyone else had to make a case for a decent lacation room at work? How did you work it out with your HR department or management?

I think we’d ALL scream if we read the ingredients on our pint of Ben & Jerry’s and saw “Human Breast Milk” on the list.

But this week PETA sent out a note encouraging Ben & Jerry’s to use human breast milk instead of cow’s milk in their ice cream.

I had to check my calendar when I heard this tidbit from a co-worker.  Was it April 1st? News of the wierd? An article from the Onion?

But it’s true.  Read more here.  

Gag factor aside.  That stuff is gold. You’d have to keep it in a freezer in Fort Knox for all the effort it takes to get a few ounces!

As you know, Ben & Jerry are famous for their clever flavor names. 

My co-workers and I started imagining what names they would use if they were to add that special ingredient. 

“Nipple Ripple? ”

Another deadpanned  “Cherry-ola?”

Now I’m not lactate intolerant, I nursed both my babies. But good luck marketing those pints.

You’ll be glad to know Ben & Jerry politely declined their request and thanked them for their concern.