Kellogg native fighting for breastfeeding rights

Feeding your child is one of the most maternal instincts a mother can have and one Silver Valley native is working to change the way the state (and even federal) governments look at breastfeeding in particular.

Brooke Barron (formerly Turner) graduated from Kellogg High School in 2010, now resides in Coeur d’Alene, and has three children including a 14-month-old that she is proudly breastfeeding.

Barron explains that her employer informed her that the added breaks she had been receiving to pump her breast milk would no longer be given, citing Federal Law.

Section 4207 of the law amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S. Code 207) to require an employer to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express milk. The employer is not required to compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time for any work time spent for such purpose. The employer must also provide a place, other than a bathroom, for the employee to express breast milk. If these requirements impose undue hardship, an employer that employs fewer than 50 employees is not subject to these requirements. The federal requirements shall not preempt a state law that provides greater protections to employees.

Barron explained how this law essentially forced her to negotiate with her employer to ensure that she would have the time that she needed.

“I basically had to compromise with management saying that I would only go twice in a 12-hour shift,” Barron said, “one of which was my lunch break and be gone no longer than 15 minutes.”

This stirred up something in Barron, who was already a very proud breastfeeding mother and had grown tired of the shame that she believes is thrust upon others like herself.

Determined to make a change, she aimed high with her efforts.

She filed a petition with the White House where petitioners are required to get 100,000 signatures in 30 days to get a federal response.

Although she isn’t anywhere near her 100,000 signature goal, she has shifted her focus to getting the attention of her state representatives in hopes that their power in D.C. will help her achieve her goal.

“I’m trying to get the law changed to protecting mothers up until their child is 2 instead of only 1,” Barron said. “The World Health Organization and UNICEF both recommend and promote breastfeeding until at least the age of 2.”

And while some breastfeeding mothers don’t feel the urge to continue past the age of 1 (or their milk supply has reduced), there are a high percentage of moms who can and do continue to breastfeed past the 12-month milestone, simply because of the benefits that come from the breast milk they are producing.

“The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby are astronomical so it only makes sense to do it as long as you can really,” Barron said. “The argument is it’s loss producing. But happy employees tend to work harder and are more loyal. Plus I don’t take as many sick days because my baby doesn’t get as sick as kids who don’t breastfeed.”

There are also other ways that breastfeeding mothers can impact their surroundings in a positive manner and Barron is a prime example of how a breastfeeding mother can be a beacon of hope for other mothers who may not be as lucky.

Barron pumps for her own health and comfort, but also realizes that she produces more than what she needs for her own child and has been able to donate her overstock to babies in need.

“The federal government is basically saying as a mother you have to be done at 1 year old,” Barron said. “Because if I don’t go pump my milk, I get engorged, which can lead to mastitis (painful breast inflammation) and other complications. Also my milk supply can drop drastically. Breast milk is important, especially for premature babies or babies with health issues. I’ve donated my milk to two different babies who have had heart problems and cancer.”

Last week Barron met with Idaho Senator Jim Risch who was sympathetic to her cause, but represents a side that has a tendency to be more conservative concerning the breastfeeding movement.

“Senator Risch is pretty conservative and he was very receptive to what I had to say,” Barron said. “He seemed to have an open mind. Among the haters, there are of course the men and the women who do not have children or never breastfed, so they do not know the struggle. A lot of pushback comes from people who think ‘it’s your choice, so don’t punish the employer or other employees’ mind-set, which is immature. It is my choice to have a baby, so I should also get a choice on feeding that child. It isn’t fair to tell a mother who is working to provide for her family and also care for her child she cannot take a break to express breast milk.”

Barron is hoping to meet with other Idaho politicians in hopes of getting them to help her find a way to make the workplace a more friendly environment for long-term breastfeeding moms.

“If the government promotes us to breastfeed until a year, then let us do that and then wean our children down, but that can take weeks or even a couple months,” Barron said. “This isn’t out to shame formula-feeding mothers, but if women can breastfeed, why not support them and give them the best possible chance in doing so? We aren’t asking for a lot. We don’t get paid maternity leave, we don’t get great insurance, we take these breaks unpaid usually. It’s better for the environment. It’s cost effective. It keeps insurance costs down. It keeps employees happy.”

Barron’s petition is still available for signing until Aug. 20, and can be found at Whitehouse.gov and then by searching: Breastfeeding: protecting mothers and babies until age 2.