Every so often, a story will surface in the news about women who are rebuked for breastfeeding their babies in public. Whether it’s shop owners or their patrons who complain, it’s an embarrassing situation for moms who are just trying to feed their children. Most people wouldn’t want to take their plates from a restaurant table and go eat in the restroom, but sometimes, that’s what’s expected when new babies are hungry. Laws vary from state to state, but 44 states have specific laws that allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location. But a mere 28 states exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws. Many of them even exempt nursing moms from jury duty.

For working moms, the healthcare bill signed into law in March 2010 mandates employers with more than 50 employees to provide a private area that isn’t a bathroom for nursing mothers to pump milk or nurse their babies during a break that may be paid or unpaid. Regardless of your comfort level, sometimes it’s necessary to breastfeed in public, and it is your right to do so. Most moms feel more comfortable with a blanket or cover, and some companies have answered the call for discreet nursing by manufacturing blankets that allow the baby proper ventilation and supervision while keeping Mom covered. Give your baby the best start you can by attempting to breastfeed, and feel comfortable feeding your baby wherever you need to. Check your state’s laws, and when in doubt, contact your local La Leche League for more specific local information.