State Laws that Protect Breastfeeding: Free Download

Stacie Bingham Doula & Birth Services: Bakersfield, Hanford, Visalia

State Laws that Protect Breastfeeding: Free Download

8/6/2014

As part of another project for World Breastfeeding Week/Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I made business-card templates for the 50 US states; actually, I should say 49 US states plus Washington DC (Idaho does not have a law that gives a woman a right to breastfeed in public -- only one that may exempt her from jury duty).

Feel free to download and print, and of course share online and in real life! If you spot any errors, please let me know as I did a lot of this while entertaining/nursing my own busy toddler!

9 Comments

kelly messing

8/6/2014 07:54:28 am

I love this & would like to thank you, but Wisconsin is no woman can be accused of indecent exposure also. I just called the courthouse and made them look it up for me so I know when I go back home!!

Stacie

8/6/2014 09:40:09 am

Many states also have laws stating breastfeeding in public is not indecent exposure, or lewd, etc. Many have laws regarding serving on a jury, and of course pumping/workplace laws. For this project, I only included the public part, and anything additional is space permitted.

For more info, here is a good guide: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx

Elizabeth

8/7/2014 11:19:13 pm

These are great. Thank YOU for providing this info to nursing mothers. I wish I had them when my boys were babies.

You might want to consider adding one for federal law. I was nursing in a federal building (at the back of the room to be discrete) while waiting for my husband's naturalization ceremony to begin. An INS employee told me I couldn't nurse (after 2 hours of processing / prep work). I had done some research and replied that I had a right to nurse in a federal building. He left and sent a woman back to stand next to me and watch me until I finished and returned to my seat. It was intimidating. I hate for another mother to have that experience, If it could be avoided.

We were in that room for about 3-4 hours since there were probably ~100 people becoming US citizens that day. Any baby/child would need to eat in that time. Families were invited to this major event in the person's life.

=Diana

8/21/2014 03:53:31 am

I threw a dinner party for 60 at a restaurant and mentioned to the manager of my niece and her infant. Management offered us a small room for privacy. Needless to say, that 'promised room' was quickly given away (to men drinking alcohol), therefore my neice was denied. In a letter I wrote, the restaurant manager replied: "How is that our problem?" Not only was it rude to "deny us access for privacy for my neice to breastfeed", but to reply with such insensitivity is far beyon accepting!

I will like to procced this problem and correct it, legally!

What is my right and what can I do about it???

reserve a small room for my neice to breast feed her infant, in which the management complied in the beginning

Gwen Williams link

9/9/2014 10:41:31 pm

Would you want to update Michigan's cards with this info?

Free to Feed in Michigan
Mothers who nurse their children in public will be protected from discrimination and prosecution under bipartisan legislation signed into law on June 24 by Governor Rick Snyder.
The "Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination Act," sponsored by state Sen. Rebekah Warren, gives women the right to nurse a child in any place that is open to the general public, including stores, restaurants and municipal buses.
Under the new anti-discrimination law, owners and operators cannot deny goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations to a woman simply because she is breastfeeding. They also cannot post signs prohibiting public nursing.
Companion legislation will ensure that nursing mothers cannot be charged under state laws prohibiting indecent exposure or disorderly conduct.

Elaine Petrowski link

9/15/2014 03:56:00 am

these are GREAT! I straddle NY and NJ and having these for both states is a gift!!!!
do you know if they will print on ANY business card template?
I like to give all of my postpartum clients a few cards in case anyone hassles them.
Again... Genius!!!! Thanks so much.

Stacie

9/15/2014 05:06:09 am

I made them to fit US size business cards -- I think there are subtle differences in sizing, so that is what I tried to make them. Thanks! I hope they are useful to you!

Alison

5/11/2015 01:29:32 am

I'd love to have the Virginia card updated since they've recently changed their laws. Is this possible? Thank you!

Sam

12/30/2016 10:02:16 am

What is Virginias new law?

Stacie Bingham, LCCE, CD(DONA), CBS(LER)

Calm, comfortable Lamaze education & experienced support for pregnancy, birth, & breastfeeding serving Bakersfield, Delano, Hanford, Porterville, Tehachapi, Tulare, Visalia + the World

661.446.4532 stacie.bing@gmail.com