https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 02:51:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-300598 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 23:20:48 +0000 BoogieBea 300598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's appropriate to bring a child to a professional workplace, but it wouldn't bother me if I was a student in that classroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-300577 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:30:08 +0000 Andrea 300577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you should bring your sick baby to the work place. Period! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-300548 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:43:40 +0000 brownie 300548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a dog isn't quite the same but I remember when I was in grad school. It was review before final and the prof brought his dogs in. Well apparently one wasn't feeling good cause it pooped in class. Again this is normal for dogs but not appropriate. Even if the dogs were completely well behaved it isn't appropriate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-300534 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:26:06 +0000 Mrs. Pen 300534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>haha this kinda cracks me up. Especially seeing everyone's responses. I guess I'm kinda "meh" about it.</p> <p>However my first thought was: she brought her baby to work with her and they were okay with it?! That's awesome. Do you have any idea how many times I've asked DH to bring DS to work with him so I can get a break... he's a math professor :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-300522 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:17:45 +0000 skibobrown 300522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm... I'm a professor, and no, I wouldn't do this while teaching my students... but I also don't want to condemn this woman for choosing to do it. I wasn't able to breastfeed exclusively, but I have plenty of colleagues who breastfed discretely while in the audience at talks, and it was never a big deal. (Actually, I doubt anybody even noticed.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-300506 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:08:37 +0000 808love 300506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This happened at my college well over 10 years ago. My roommate had the class and I'm pretty sure it was a women's studies class.. Nobody complained, it didn't make the news but my roommate loves to retell the story for shock value. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299980 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:26:36 +0000 pinkcupcake 299980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with all the PP that think this was inappropriate. She shouldn't have brought her sick child to class. I couldn't (and wouldn't) take my LO to work when I was working. It's not professional. I'm super pro-bf and bf my own daughter all around town but I wouldn't start bf in the middle of a mtg or interview. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299891 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:53:36 +0000 brownie 299891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a college instructor and I never would have brought my child to work. Unless I was allowed. If the school says its appropriate for your children to be there, I would say it isn't an issue. If she brought the child and it isn't allowed then she did something wrong. If there isn't a policy, it is a grey area and the school should make a policy. So I guess I'm saying the breastfeeding isn't an issue it is if the child should have been there in the first place.</p> <p>For us, you can't have non students in class because of insurance issues. So I wouldn't bring my child to work. Mind you I have had him come to nurse when I have a lunch break and go somewhere somewhat privately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299869 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:45:23 +0000 looch 299869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My former employer used to provide back up child care by pooling services with another company that provided care. Granted, it was more for days when daycare was closed, like some Jewish holidays and the exchange was open, but in a pinch, you could also take your sick child there if you had a meeting for a short period of time. Not what I would have done, but still an option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299773 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:08:10 +0000 Mrs. Bee 299773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i understand that it might make some uncomfortable, and she could have easily excused herself for 10-15 minutes? but it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299772 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:08:06 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 299772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>II wouldn't mind taking a class where the professor is breastfeeding, and I wouldn't mind breastfeeding in class if I had to. I do not see anything wrong with it. IMO people are too hypersensitive.</p> <p>breastfeeding is totally normal/natural to me and I don't think any limitations should be set on it whatsoever.</p> <p>Besides, I am sure she used a cover. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299767 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:05:20 +0000 kml636 299767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm all for women's rights and breastfeeding rights, but could I as a professional bf in a meeting? NO! And I couldn't bring my baby to the meeting either. It's just not professional. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299683 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:20:54 +0000 mediagirl 299683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's absolutely ridiculous. If you can't find care, I'm sorry but you have to send in your syllabus and take a day off. A friend of mine is a professor, had a sick child and has to miss her first three days of classes at her college. I am pro breastfeeding, as well but I do not want to watch my professor breastfeed her child while I am trying to learn from her. </p> <p>I also don't think it's appropriate to bring your child to class with you! I don't bring my child to work with me because she would be distracting. Does this professor allow her students to bring their children to class with them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299672 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:16:05 +0000 Turd Ferguson 299672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I agree. Just because it was a feminist anthropology class doesn't excuse the fact that it was, a class and this woman was a working professional. I am so 100% for breastfeeding, but again, not in its full glory in a professional, working environment. I agree that many workplaces do need to be more family-friendly, but I don't think bringing your baby to work, let alone breastfeeding in front of a classroom of students is the best bet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299663 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:13:37 +0000 jedeve 299663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd have been pissed if a professor missed the first day of class. You don't get a refund for that, and you're paying something like $100 per class. Unlike other businesses, you can't just reschedule a meeting or have someone cover for you or take a day off and make up the time later.</p> <p>And some places do offer sick child care. Mother's miss work disproportionately when their children are sick, and so it's not really fair to students of female professors "sorry, you just won't have all the classes you are paying for."</p> <p>Granted, I got my master's in anthropology and watched videos of half naked women biting the heads off of chickens, read books on gang rape, and interviewed people at a homeless shelter...so yeah, seeing someone breastfeed wouldn't have phased me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299655 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:11:09 +0000 MamaMoose 299655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with a some of the others that it would be really difficult to rely on employers to provide back up child care. It doesn't seem feasible to me financially or logistically. I do think it should be the responsibility of the parent to have a back up plan in the case of a sick child. I agree that bringing a sick baby to a room with a bunch of college kids doesn't seem to be in the baby's best interest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299635 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:01:53 +0000 Honeybee 299635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This really doesn't bother me. There were several women in different college classes I took that brought their infants and breastfed them during class. I guess you could make the argument that there's a difference between students doing this and professors doing this, but I was a lit major so all the classes were very much discussion-based and reliant on student participation (i.e. not a lecture). It reallly didn't bother me when classmates breastfed while participating in class discussions, so I doubt it would bother me if a professor did it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299633 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:00:44 +0000 ladyfingers 299633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't see a thing wrong with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299527 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:23:39 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 299527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I'm a little less sympathetic in this situation because as work situations go, academia is pretty flexible. Sucks to miss your first day of class, yes, but make the lecture available to your students electronically and get back on track next time with a back-up plan in place. </p> <p>As for AU providing back-up childcare, I don't quite get how that would work. If your child is too sick for their regular daycare, they are probably too sick for any kind of daycare. It seems like a very expensive proposition unless you're a very large school (AU is not) that will actually see the service used regularly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299514 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:16:00 +0000 loveisstrange 299514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's EXTREMELY unprofessional, both the breastfeeding and the bringing her child to the class.</p> <p>I would have had an issue with a professor doing this at my university. Period. I'll be the bad guy but there ARE situations where breastfeeding is inappropriate and any kind of professional setting is one of them. I don't care what kind of class it was.</p> <p>And you know what, I had professors miss the first day of class. Have a TA pass our your syllabus and get over it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299510 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:13:13 +0000 mrsjazz 299510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't bring a sick baby to class, but it seems like she didn't have any other option since she a) is single b) couldn't take her daughter to daycare because she was sick. I commend her for her ability to multitask. She didn't have to cancel class--which would have to be made up and that affects not just her but all of her students, too. </p> <p>I breastfeed in public often and no one sees any nipple--I bet no one in her class saw that. I don't think it's a big deal because everyone got what they needed in the end: she taught her class, the students learned, and a sick baby ate. The students or any one on administration who has a problem with it should take it up with the school for their lack of services/benefits in situations like the professor's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299495 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:06:32 +0000 yoursilverlining 299495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's appropriate to breast feed in professional settings. I think it's also the responsibility of the parent to have back up/emergency childcare options available; or be ready to take part of a day off work. If your baby is sick, should you really be taking them to rooms full of college kids with tons of germs of their own? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299494 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:06:22 +0000 Mrs.B 299494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299484 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:01:32 +0000 Maysprout 299484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I liked her response:<br /> " I fed my sick baby during feminist anthropology class without disrupting the lecture so as to not have to cancel the first day of class. I doubt anyone saw my nipple, because I’m pretty good at covering it. But if they did, they now know that I too, a university professor, like them, have nipples. Or at least that I have one."</p> <p>I agree it's not ideal to have a child in the classroom but I'm very supportive of making the workplace more family friendly. It doesn't sound like she brings the child regularly or that the baby was disruptive so I don't see the big deal. In a feminist anthropology class, the students should be able to go outside their books and chalkboard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299481 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:01:03 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 299481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I might be missing something, but couldn't she have given the baby a bottle of breastmilk instead of nursing it? </p> <p>That would have avoided the controversy and the baby would have been fed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299477 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:57:51 +0000 oliviaoblivia 299477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like if she had a choice she probably would have avoided it, but as Mrs. Jacks said she's an anthropology professor, her students should just get over it.<br /> Half of my college classmates would eat or drink during class, it's not all that different that the baby had to eat. I guess I still don't understand why people make such a big deal over breastfeeding in public. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299474 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:56:06 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 299474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is my alma mater, which is quite liberal. I wonder if it would have been an issue if not for the student journos. Regardless, I don't think a sick baby should be in the classroom, BF or no BF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299472 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:55:16 +0000 rachiecakes 299472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's professional or polite to eat in class, or in a meeting, etc.<br /> I feel sorry that her baby was sick her first day but was it really the right thing to do to bring your sick baby out into the public? It would stink to miss your first day of class but I think this is where you should take care of family first, employers should be more understanding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299466 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:51:35 +0000 MamaMoose 299466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: haha fair point. According to the article is actually doesn't seem like her students complained but that someone from the school newspaper heard about it and made a story out of it. But even if everyone is comfortable I still feel like it's not something I would ever do in a professional setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/professor-breast-feeds-while-teaching-a-class#post-299461 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:48:22 +0000 looch 299461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I think the larger issue is lack of back up day care for working parents, which I think that employers should pay more attention to. </p>