Breastfeeding Laws?

Question

My manager has recently told two young mothers that I work with that they are only allowed to nurse or pump their milk in the bathroom. To me this seems very unsanitary and unfair. Are there any laws that prevent this in the State of New Mexico or nationally?

My co-workers do not bring their children to work very often, hardly ever in fact. They need to express the milk to avoid pain or discomfort.

And if my employer has the right to designate a spot, then why not designate a clean place? There is no where to sit in our bathroom except on the toilet!

Answer 1

There is currently a bill in the New Mexico legislature on this specific issue. Check the link below. Currently, New Mexico law has only one protection for breastfeeding mothers:

"A mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be present."

This may help with actually nursing the babies, but will not do much for pumping, unfortunately. I encourage you, and the others in your work place to talk with your legislators about passing the bill currently before your legislature.

Answer 2

Apparently New Mexico has a breastfeeding task force!

It is legal for any mother to breast feed her child in any public place where the mother has the right to be.

Also, the state legislature has not yet passed a law providing for an area away from the restroom in which you can pump milk--but they're working on it. A proposal has just been put forth in 2007.

Answer 3

If they arent exposed they can't have a law against breastfeeding, so they can get a blanket and cover up, once you get the hang of it it is really easy. The bathroom isnt bad either, as long as the baby isnt on the toilet or something there is nothing wrong with that - if they choose to. I chose to feed my baby in the bathroom for the first 3months at least, you feel more privacy there.

Answer 4

i'm no longer in England, yet can grant this suggestion: until eventually there is at present a regulation in position forbidding breastfeeding in public, then it isn't a criminal offense to succeed in this. The regulation it really is being proposed will preserve a lady's proper to succeed in this, notwithstanding it does no longer substitute the actual shown truth that it's not at present unlawful. Does that make experience?

Answer 5

New Mexico
N.M. Stat. Ann. § 28-20-1 (1999) permits a mother to breastfeed her child in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be. (SB 545)


here are some links to get info and you can print it out and take it to work and show others and your boss you do not have to hide in the bathroom to feed your baby

Answer 6

Search Breastfeeding Laws for New Mexico in google. And you can always petition for them to make an area because it's discrimination against nursing mothers. North Carolina allows you to breast feed/pump where you need to.

Answer 7

Many states have rights for breastfeeding mothers. Check w/ local La leche League.

Answer 8

You tell to ask him if he would ever eat in a bathroom ! There are laws that protect a nursing mom.

Answer 9

Your employer has the right to designate certain area of the workplace for feedings, afterall it IS a place of business not a feeding chamber for infants. Frankly they should feel lucky to be able to bring their infants to work at all, since most employers don't allow it even during lunch hours.

Answer 10

http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/Bills29.html

http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=112418