Friday, November 18, 2005

Mothers' effort brings results at some stores (The Post and Courier)

MOUNT PLEASANT - They were angry, they had hungry babies, and they had buying power.

The mothers who convened for a "nurse-in" at Towne Centre in June meant business, and now, in the absence of a state law to protect moms nursing in public, one local company is offering them a safe, comfortable place to feed their babies while shopping in area malls.

The Mother's Lounges unveiled Wednesday at four area Belk department stores, a joint project of Roper St. Francis Healthcare and Belk, are cozy nooks outfitted with cushy rocking chairs and toys for older siblings. Whimsical Winnie the Pooh prints decorate the walls, and the rooms are stocked with information about breast-feeding and places to find lactation support.

Nursing moms in the Lowcountry were galvanized over the summer when Mount Pleasant's Lori Rueger said she was denied use of a dressing room to feed her baby at Victoria's Secret in Towne Centre.

About 25 moms held a "nurse-in" outside the store days later to raise awareness about the benefits of breast-feeding and urged businesses to support nursing mothers.



click to read more...

No comments: