A mum in the US has gone public with her story, having been told to stop breastfeeding during a custody hearing, and asked to leave the court.
A ‘humiliated’ KyLee Dickinson, from Michigan, explained that she had been told prior to the hearing not to bring any children into the court; however, with her two eldest children in school and daycare, and with her six-month-old baby being nursed, she felt she had no choice but to bring her daughter with her.
When the 25-year-old mother entered the building with her ex-husband, she was informed by the court referee that her child could remain there for the duration of the hearing. What happened next, however, left Dickinson ‘humiliated’.
Writing about her experience on Facebook, Dickinson explained that, a few minutes into the hearing, her baby began to fuss, signalling that she was hungry. When Dickinson began to feed her, however, members of the court took issue.
She wrote: “Although I was covered the referee took notice and interrupted my ex from talking to say, ‘uh, Ma’am you need to leave the room if you’re going to do that...you cannot breastfeed in here…This is an official hearing.’”
When Dickinson stopped breastfeeding, and tried to soothe her baby, she was dismissed from the court before the end of the hearing.
The hearing was being held in the first place because Dickinson’s ex-husband has objected to a child support order, and the incident has left her both embarrassed and worried for the outcome of the case.
With the help of local breastfeeding groups, Dickinson has now lodged a formal complaint, and a demonstration took place outside the court yesterday.
In response to her claims, a representative for the court has insisted that Dickinson was dismissed because the baby was being disruptive, not over breastfeeding.
Last year, a law was passed in Michigan giving women the right to breastfeed in areas open to the public.
