Nancy Holtzman, an internationally board certified lactation consultant, reinforced Bellissimo's concerns: "Long separations between feedings may result in engorgement, blocked milk ducts, or mastitis, an inflammatory infection of the breast requiring antibiotics. Reducing the frequency of breastfeeding could certainly have a negative impact on milk supply, decreasing the amount of milk available to feed the baby. Although the decrease in milk supply may be reversible, if the baby has gotten used to the rapid flow from drinking bottles, she may begin to refuse the breast altogether, leading to an unplanned weaning."

The law
Anxious to attend this show without jeopardizing the breastfeeding relationship with her daughter, Bellissimo contacted the JPMA to see if they would make an exception to this rule for a nursing mother. In their correspondence with Bellissimo, the JPMA explained that they have had this request before and "will not make exceptions to it."

When it comes to breastfeeding in Texas, however, the law is very clear, and La Leche League International (LLLI) details the legislation on their website: "Texas enacted very comprehensive legislation in 1995 that sets forth the benefits of breastfeeding [and] clarifies that women have a right to breastfeed in public." While the Dallas Market Center is a private facility, Section 165.002 of the Texas code explicitly states that "A mother is entitled to breast-feed her baby in any location in which the mother is authorized to be."

As Bellissimo noted, "Even when the law is very clearly in your favor, you still have to fight for your rights."

Why?
Unlike many of the high-profile department store breastfeeding discrimination cases in the news, for the JPMA and the Dallas Market Center, this was not a morality issue. In a statement to ePregnancy, the JPMA asserted that they "...support exhibitor efforts to provide a flexible work schedule, breaks and work patterns to provide time for the care and nurturing of infants. We have set aside a private lounge on the first floor of the Apparel Mart Trade Show location to facilitate nurturing of infants by mothers interested in doing so."

This supports the JPMA's correspondence with Bellissimo, where a representative explained, "Both JPMA and DMC have made every effort to accommodate the needs of parents who must bring their children to the show by providing the option of day care services on the first floor of the building... the primary reason for this rule is safety as well as liability."

The problem with this, pointed out Florida attorney Jennifer Whitelaw, is that "denying access by the baby is denying access to the properly attached, appropriately caring mother. Because of the attachment, they are in essence barring the mom. To argue otherwise is to deny the bond (attachment) that the entire show is organized to profit from."

In their correspondence with Bellissimo, the JPMA goes on to cite the addition of more electrical outlets and power to restrooms accessible to the showrooms on the fifth and sixth floors as an accommodation for moms who use breast pumps. For Bellissimo, this was not an option. "Besides," Bellissimo points out, "leaving the showroom throughout the day to either pump, or go even further away to nurse Cecilia, means a significant amount of time I'm not there to sell my merchandise."

Nancy Holtzman adds, "Not all women are able to express milk, not all babies are willing to take a bottle, and neither may be ready to spend their days apart just yet." And as for pumping in the bathroom? Holtzman says, "Expressing milk in a bathroom or toilet stall should not be an acceptable solution. I haven't yet found a city Health Department that would approve of a restaurant preparing meals in their restrooms."

Fighting back
Determined to not only attend this trade show next week with her infant in her arms, but also make it possible for other mothers to do the same, Bellissimo decided to fight back. "At first I didn't really want to raise a stink about this," she said. "I have a four month old and I'm trying to prepare for this huge show - those things alone are physically and emotionally draining. And now this." But Bellissimo feels this issue is too important to let it go - not just for her baby, but for the well-being of all babies and their mothers who are affected by this rule. She and her husband, Joe, engaged an attorney in an effort to see the rule overturned. She explains, "The state legislature decided moms have the right to breastfeed their babies everywhere moms are allowed to be. It's time this law was enforced."

Then Bellissimo went one step further, contacting her friend, Camryn Manheim of ABC's The Practice. Together the pair went on the air with Entertainment Tonight Wednesday night expressing their frustration with this example of breastfeeding discrimination. Said Manheim, "It's hypocritical that an organization promoting good families, healthy children and good parenting would deny a mother the right to breastfeed on the premises."

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