Mothers Take Stand For Breastfeeding

Mothers around the United States on Wednesday morning staged what they called a “nurse-in” at to stand up for breastfeeding rights.

Mothers took to Target stores to breastfeed after one Texas mother said that employees made her feel uncomfortable when breastfeeding at a Target store near Houston, 10TV’s Andrea Cambern reported.

"It was a breastfeeding issue,” Michelle Hickman said. “They had a problem with me nursing in public.”

Hickman said that she sat on the floor of the women’s clothing section with her son, Noah, and began feeding him. She said that employees offered her a fitting room, but when she declined, she said she started to feel humiliated.

"They all came and started walking by and shaking their heads, rolling their eyes like I'm doing something so horrible like feeding my baby here,” Hickman said.

Reynoldsburg resident Angela Thompson, who has three children, said that she was not surprised by Hickman’s story and has encountered similar issues.

"There's nothing wrong with it,” Thompson said. “It's supposed to be the most natural thing in the world. And truly, moms don't want to expose themselves. That's not what we're out there to do.”

Thompson, who is a former engineer turned freelance writer, who blogs at “Momma’s Corner of the World,” said that she thanked the Texas mother for taking a stand.

"It's great, It's great to see someone say, you know, ‘I have a right to do this.’ She has a right to feed her baby a bottle and I have a right to nurse my baby,” Thompson said.

Target stores issued a statement on Wednesday saying “Guests who choose to breastfeed in public areas of the store are welcome to do so without being made to feel uncomfortable,” Cambern reported.

But that’s exactly how Hickman said she felt, uncomfortable.

"There (are) people walking around showing far more cleavage than I would be showing,” Hickman said.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for more information.