Did I mention that the voters just recently approved a $65 MILLION bond for the zoo to make improvements? My mistake. . . It was actually $125 MILLION of tax money for the zoo. (In case you are wondering, I know that my husband and I voted YES on this issue.) Here is the rundown from the Multnomah County Elections:
SAFETY; CONSERVE, RECYCLE WATER
Question: Shall Zoo protect animal health and safety; conserve,
recycle water; issue $125 million in general obligation
bonds; require independent audits?
If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on
property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits
of Sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution
Summary : Measure will:
• Provide more humane care for animals: update four outdated
and undersized enclosures with larger, more natural and
safer spaces.
• Protect animal health and safety: modernize Zoo’s substandard
45 year old animal clinic determined deficient by the
American Zoo Association.
• Increase access to conservation education: provide more
space for summer camps, classes and hands-on learning for
kids, adults, and families.
• Improve water quality: replace the Zoo’s 1950’s sewer
system, reducing pollution by separating sewage from storm
water, harvesting runoff for reuse.
• Conserve, reuse water: install water recycling filtration systems;
replace leaking, worn-out plumbing, irrigation systems,
saving 11,000,000 gallons of water annually.
Improvements will meet sustainability standards.
Accountability requirements include:
• Internal audits
• Annual independent financial audit published in newspaper
• Citizens’ oversight committee to monitor spending and recommend
project modifications if needed
Bond cost estimate less than 9 cents per $1,000 assessed
value per year. The average home owner in the region pays
$1.40 a month. Bonds mature in 21 years or less.
Hmmmm. . . did anyone note the additional spaces to be included? I ask, "Why in the world can't a nursing room be a part of this??" What are your thoughts? It's our money after all.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Confirm your signature
Oops! We have had several people let us know that they signed the petition. However, their names never showed up on the list. We quickly figured out that some folks were clicking to "sign" the petition, but then moving out of the next screen before confirming the signature. We felt it was imperative to note that you will need to do this two-step process in order for your signature to count.
Sara and I really appreciate you taking the time to do this and to send it along to anyone you think may be interested. It all means a lot to us and to the future of our nursing room campaign!
Thank you!
Sara and I really appreciate you taking the time to do this and to send it along to anyone you think may be interested. It all means a lot to us and to the future of our nursing room campaign!
Thank you!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
My Conversation with Utah's Hogle Zoo
In doing our research about a nursing room at the zoo, we discovered that in 2001 Utah's Hogle Zoo became the first zoo in the United States to provide a room solely designated for nursing mothers. When we discovered this, we were really surprised, and a little saddened, that zoos did not commonly provide a facility for nursing mothers.
This morning I spoke to Doug Lund, Assistant Director of Administration/Finance at the Hogle Zoo. Up until December 2008, Mr. Lund had been their Capital Projects Associate Director. I learned some very interesting information during my discussing with Mr. Lund.
First, I feel it is important to note that Mr. Lund was not aware that the Hogle Zoo was the first zoo in the country to provide a nursing room. He was actually pretty surprised by this information. I had been hoping that he would rattle off a bunch of statistics and information for me about their reasons for adding a nursing room, but he said that reason was mostly that it seemed important to the demographic using their zoo. Something to which we mama's can certainly attest!
Secondly, they consider the Oregon Zoo to be their "sister zoo" because they have a similar layout and demographic. In fact, when they were planning their 2001 entrance remodel (in which they added the nursing room) they had a team visit the Oregon Zoo to get ideas for their layout and design!
Mr. Lund also informed me that the room, which is located off of a woman's restroom, has quieters to eliminate outside noise and has wall sconces, as apposed to overhead lights, to make it more comfortable. They also have family restrooms throughout their zoo.
While I was hoping to get a few more statistics about their nursing room, I was encouraged by the fact that the Hogle Zoo considers our zoo to be their a "sister". Although, I have to say that the Hogle Zoo has done a lot more to make their zoo family-friendly.
I hope that the Oregon Zoo can use their "sister" as a model of what a family-friendly zoo looks like. After all, we families make up a very large portion of their demographic.
This morning I spoke to Doug Lund, Assistant Director of Administration/Finance at the Hogle Zoo. Up until December 2008, Mr. Lund had been their Capital Projects Associate Director. I learned some very interesting information during my discussing with Mr. Lund.
First, I feel it is important to note that Mr. Lund was not aware that the Hogle Zoo was the first zoo in the country to provide a nursing room. He was actually pretty surprised by this information. I had been hoping that he would rattle off a bunch of statistics and information for me about their reasons for adding a nursing room, but he said that reason was mostly that it seemed important to the demographic using their zoo. Something to which we mama's can certainly attest!
Secondly, they consider the Oregon Zoo to be their "sister zoo" because they have a similar layout and demographic. In fact, when they were planning their 2001 entrance remodel (in which they added the nursing room) they had a team visit the Oregon Zoo to get ideas for their layout and design!
Mr. Lund also informed me that the room, which is located off of a woman's restroom, has quieters to eliminate outside noise and has wall sconces, as apposed to overhead lights, to make it more comfortable. They also have family restrooms throughout their zoo.
While I was hoping to get a few more statistics about their nursing room, I was encouraged by the fact that the Hogle Zoo considers our zoo to be their a "sister". Although, I have to say that the Hogle Zoo has done a lot more to make their zoo family-friendly.
I hope that the Oregon Zoo can use their "sister" as a model of what a family-friendly zoo looks like. After all, we families make up a very large portion of their demographic.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
We shall not be moved . . .
I need to print a retraction here to clarify the locked doors to the First Aid rooms. Yes, it is true that the door to the station located in the Africa café area (in the “middle” of the zoo) is a locked facility. We have absolutely no idea about the door to the First Aid station in the administration building, as we have never been able to even find it! The station in the entrance to the zoo is not locked. You do not need to find a zoo employee to open it for you.
But that means, as Sara found out, there is not any element of privacy. During her nursing session she was constantly concerned that someone was going to come in. And although I know that she personally would not have really cared, had that happened, she was in there representing ALL nursing moms and trying to experience how the First Aid room is unsuitable as a nursing room.
I feel the need to point out the the Oregon Zoo has four (yes four!) stations set up for smokers - three inside the zoo and one just outside the enterance on zoo grounds. These include signs, benches, ashtrays and a place on the map. So if you smoked, you could easily locate several different places where the zoo welcomes you to partake in your enjoyment. But if you need to feed your offspring with what nature intended them to be fed with - you might as well hop in the chimp cage. Although the soaking pool for the hippos looks nice too . . .
*****************************************************
We also had an interesting conversation today about the sadness we both felt at the forum comments regarding the recent Oregon mall discrimination (see link below in previous post). The situation in and of itself is tragic on so many levels – including the fact that the employee was responding to a complaint made by another woman. This just baffles us – and so many others – as we cannot understand why women are not unified and supportive of other mothers who are nursing. I think we both feel that even if you do not or did not breastfeed, that you still need to be supportive of other women who choose to do so. If women are not going to stand by each other, how do we expect all of society to?
We hope that this mission is not viewed as anti-nursing in public. We are absolutely not discouraging moms from nursing at the zoo, or anywhere for that matter, wherever and whenever they need to – in fact, we encourage that. But, as stated in our first entry, we do believe that a public facility the size of the zoo, that caters to families, needs to provide a more adequate alternative for moms who seek the option.
We are reminded of the saying, “We shall not be moved," except that we may darn well move ourselves into a nice, cozy nursing room . . . if we want to.
But that means, as Sara found out, there is not any element of privacy. During her nursing session she was constantly concerned that someone was going to come in. And although I know that she personally would not have really cared, had that happened, she was in there representing ALL nursing moms and trying to experience how the First Aid room is unsuitable as a nursing room.
I feel the need to point out the the Oregon Zoo has four (yes four!) stations set up for smokers - three inside the zoo and one just outside the enterance on zoo grounds. These include signs, benches, ashtrays and a place on the map. So if you smoked, you could easily locate several different places where the zoo welcomes you to partake in your enjoyment. But if you need to feed your offspring with what nature intended them to be fed with - you might as well hop in the chimp cage. Although the soaking pool for the hippos looks nice too . . .
*****************************************************
We also had an interesting conversation today about the sadness we both felt at the forum comments regarding the recent Oregon mall discrimination (see link below in previous post). The situation in and of itself is tragic on so many levels – including the fact that the employee was responding to a complaint made by another woman. This just baffles us – and so many others – as we cannot understand why women are not unified and supportive of other mothers who are nursing. I think we both feel that even if you do not or did not breastfeed, that you still need to be supportive of other women who choose to do so. If women are not going to stand by each other, how do we expect all of society to?
We hope that this mission is not viewed as anti-nursing in public. We are absolutely not discouraging moms from nursing at the zoo, or anywhere for that matter, wherever and whenever they need to – in fact, we encourage that. But, as stated in our first entry, we do believe that a public facility the size of the zoo, that caters to families, needs to provide a more adequate alternative for moms who seek the option.
We are reminded of the saying, “We shall not be moved," except that we may darn well move ourselves into a nice, cozy nursing room . . . if we want to.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Sara's Recon Mission to the Zoo
Amy, you are very right! We do have a long way to go. I was most saddened by comments by women who had breastfed and were saying that women should "cover up and be discreet" when nursing. When I am nursing in public, I can assure you that my goal not to flash people, but to feed my child. In fact, I am so focused on my goal that I cannot be constantly attempting out-of-body experiences to ensure that I am not accidentally baring myself. Not to mention that many women not only have our nursing child to worry about, but we also have other children who are milling about during these public nursing sessions. So the concern for an accidental flashing is a distant third when ranking our worries while nursing.
As Amy mentioned, I was at the zoo doing some reconnaissance work today (and spending a lovely sunny day with my two daughters, of course). My goal during my visit was to take pictures of the first aid rooms and the one bathroom that we had been told was a "good space for nursing". Well, I got to one first aid room and what I will call the "nursing bathroom". I could not even locate the first aid room in the AfriCafe area! It did not help that I was dealing with a three year old who was wanting to run in the grass while I was searching. I have pictures of my trip that I will be adding as a slide show to show everyone what I discovered.
First, the "nursing bathroom". I will start by saying that, in my opinion, no mother should ever be forced to nurse in a public restroom. It totally defeats the idea of a nursing room. I am not sure why anyone would feel that a child would nurse any more effectively in a room where people are coming and going. This is exactly the same as being outside. And do not get me started on how unsanitary it would make me feel! Please view the photo of the bench in the bathroom. While it is a nice option for those who want to sit while waiting for a stall, it is definitely not a viable option for nursing.
After the bathroom adventure, I looked at the first aid room located at the entrance. It is in the membership office area. The room was pretty tight with a stroller, but large enough for all of us to fit. My main issue was that the door did not lock! Every time I heard someone walk by I was sure they were going to come in and need it for a medical emergency or to get an ace bandage or something. An additional concern is that it is just not a place where a toddler can hang out while I am nursing. My daughter wanted to explore all the drawers and cabinets.
So, that was my trip. I wanted to take more pictures, but it was very challenging while manipulating a stroller, a baby, and a three year old. I will definitely bring a buddy next time so I can capture more.
As Amy mentioned, I was at the zoo doing some reconnaissance work today (and spending a lovely sunny day with my two daughters, of course). My goal during my visit was to take pictures of the first aid rooms and the one bathroom that we had been told was a "good space for nursing". Well, I got to one first aid room and what I will call the "nursing bathroom". I could not even locate the first aid room in the AfriCafe area! It did not help that I was dealing with a three year old who was wanting to run in the grass while I was searching. I have pictures of my trip that I will be adding as a slide show to show everyone what I discovered.
First, the "nursing bathroom". I will start by saying that, in my opinion, no mother should ever be forced to nurse in a public restroom. It totally defeats the idea of a nursing room. I am not sure why anyone would feel that a child would nurse any more effectively in a room where people are coming and going. This is exactly the same as being outside. And do not get me started on how unsanitary it would make me feel! Please view the photo of the bench in the bathroom. While it is a nice option for those who want to sit while waiting for a stall, it is definitely not a viable option for nursing.
After the bathroom adventure, I looked at the first aid room located at the entrance. It is in the membership office area. The room was pretty tight with a stroller, but large enough for all of us to fit. My main issue was that the door did not lock! Every time I heard someone walk by I was sure they were going to come in and need it for a medical emergency or to get an ace bandage or something. An additional concern is that it is just not a place where a toddler can hang out while I am nursing. My daughter wanted to explore all the drawers and cabinets.
So, that was my trip. I wanted to take more pictures, but it was very challenging while manipulating a stroller, a baby, and a three year old. I will definitely bring a buddy next time so I can capture more.
We have a LONG way to go!
Where are we? Sara is at the zoo today checking out some stats and we anxiously await news from the directors that they are willing to meet with us . . .
In the meantime, interesting email and notes have come to our attention. One friend recently commented, “I don’t care about offending anyone, if my baby needs to eat, I just whip it out.” To which I quickly replied, “That’s wonderful, we encourage that and embrace that. However, this issue is not about offending anyone. It is about creating a space that is safe and (potentially) calm for moms to effectively nurse. While they’re at it, they can change baby’s diaper and ensure that if they have other children with them, they are not roaming free.”
Another benefit is of course for the moms that need to pump. It would be almost impossible for a mom who needs to pump to enjoy the zoo with her family for more than a couple of hours. If a nursing room was provided, mom could stop in, pump and be on her way. Cake. Where else can mom do this?
An interesting article that touches on this subject is at:
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_020609_health_breastfeeding_mall.251b93e0.html
Maybe people will begin to understand what we are up against when we have babies we need to feed and there isn’t a private place to do this. Like we said, covering up is not an option for many babes, as they just pull it off. Besides, who eats with a blanket over their head? I personally am outraged by the, dare I say, not so nice word here has been replaced with - unsupportive fellow human beings who comment on being turned on by nursing moms, that “bigger is better,” and (my personal favorite) the one who claims, “Personally, I just walk up and ask if they're giving out free samples.” Moms, keep rocks in your purse just in case you encounter this one.
Lord help the mama who chooses to do the single best thing for her baby . . . We have a LONG way to go!
In the meantime, interesting email and notes have come to our attention. One friend recently commented, “I don’t care about offending anyone, if my baby needs to eat, I just whip it out.” To which I quickly replied, “That’s wonderful, we encourage that and embrace that. However, this issue is not about offending anyone. It is about creating a space that is safe and (potentially) calm for moms to effectively nurse. While they’re at it, they can change baby’s diaper and ensure that if they have other children with them, they are not roaming free.”
Another benefit is of course for the moms that need to pump. It would be almost impossible for a mom who needs to pump to enjoy the zoo with her family for more than a couple of hours. If a nursing room was provided, mom could stop in, pump and be on her way. Cake. Where else can mom do this?
An interesting article that touches on this subject is at:
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_020609_health_breastfeeding_mall.251b93e0.html
Maybe people will begin to understand what we are up against when we have babies we need to feed and there isn’t a private place to do this. Like we said, covering up is not an option for many babes, as they just pull it off. Besides, who eats with a blanket over their head? I personally am outraged by the, dare I say, not so nice word here has been replaced with - unsupportive fellow human beings who comment on being turned on by nursing moms, that “bigger is better,” and (my personal favorite) the one who claims, “Personally, I just walk up and ask if they're giving out free samples.” Moms, keep rocks in your purse just in case you encounter this one.
Lord help the mama who chooses to do the single best thing for her baby . . . We have a LONG way to go!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Family friendly?? Hmmmm. . .
Amy here –
I was talking with our friend Beth this morning about our mission, and of course the inevitable came up: That darn lack of family-friendly facilities at the zoo. Yes, Sara and I have discussed this same issue during one of our meetings. We tackled the issue of what we should be presenting to the zoo directors when/if we meet with them. Ultimately we decided to focus on our main goal – a nursing room or space (or multiple spaces – parish the thought!).
HOWEVER, this brings up a great presentation platform for the Oregon Zoo to leap from. Creating a “Family-friendly Makeover” would provide the zoo with numerous opportunities to enable the public to enjoy their experience there on so many levels. In turn, the zoo benefits and the visitors are happy.
What sort of things could they possibly include in this kind of package you wonder? Well, we simply came up with the basics: More stepstools in the bathrooms (and clean them occasionally please!) for the munchkins to reach the sinks; lower sinks, soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers for the kids; kid-sized toilets; family restrooms; healthy snack options throughout the zoo; and above all, a Nursing room – for the love of Pete and all that is sacred!
Through my correspondence with the zoo, I have been informed that they “plan to include family restrooms in the future, when feasible.” My question, and maybe yours is, are there not two major construction projects going on at the zoo RIGHT NOW? (the primate exhibit makeover and the entire new Predators of the Serengeti exhibit) How is it not feasible at this time? Need we mention that the voters just recently approved a 65 million dollar bond for the zoo for maintenance, rehabilitation of some existing exhibits, and to help with their eco-friendly projects? Hmmmm. . . .
We want to know what you think . . . post your comments for the world to see – and thank you!
I was talking with our friend Beth this morning about our mission, and of course the inevitable came up: That darn lack of family-friendly facilities at the zoo. Yes, Sara and I have discussed this same issue during one of our meetings. We tackled the issue of what we should be presenting to the zoo directors when/if we meet with them. Ultimately we decided to focus on our main goal – a nursing room or space (or multiple spaces – parish the thought!).
HOWEVER, this brings up a great presentation platform for the Oregon Zoo to leap from. Creating a “Family-friendly Makeover” would provide the zoo with numerous opportunities to enable the public to enjoy their experience there on so many levels. In turn, the zoo benefits and the visitors are happy.
What sort of things could they possibly include in this kind of package you wonder? Well, we simply came up with the basics: More stepstools in the bathrooms (and clean them occasionally please!) for the munchkins to reach the sinks; lower sinks, soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers for the kids; kid-sized toilets; family restrooms; healthy snack options throughout the zoo; and above all, a Nursing room – for the love of Pete and all that is sacred!
Through my correspondence with the zoo, I have been informed that they “plan to include family restrooms in the future, when feasible.” My question, and maybe yours is, are there not two major construction projects going on at the zoo RIGHT NOW? (the primate exhibit makeover and the entire new Predators of the Serengeti exhibit) How is it not feasible at this time? Need we mention that the voters just recently approved a 65 million dollar bond for the zoo for maintenance, rehabilitation of some existing exhibits, and to help with their eco-friendly projects? Hmmmm. . . .
We want to know what you think . . . post your comments for the world to see – and thank you!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
What exactly is our mission, you ask?
Our mission began when Amy sent out an email that she had just returned from a three-hour trip to the Oregon Zoo with her two kids. I jokingly asked her which cold bench she had ended up nursing her daughter on. And thus our mission began . . .
To give you a little more insight, we live in Portland, home of the Oregon Zoo. We both have two children who are roughly the same ages, our oldest children are both three years old and our youngest children are both less then a year old. The youngest children are breastfed. Also important to note, is that we are both currently staying at home (I struggle with a term for myself: stay-at-home mom, or SAHM, and domestic engineer both make me a bit nauseous).
The zoo is an ideal place to take our kids. Plus, it's something we can do when on a solo outing with the kids. Our older children can explore all of the different animals and habitats while burning off some of their excess energy. Our younger children are content to look at all the sights that the zoo offers or drift off to sleep in their strollers. It's a wonderful place. In fact, both of our families are loyal zoo members.
While Portland is notoriously damp in the winter months, we Portlanders do not let this hamper our outdoor adventures. The city offers so many wonderful ways to explore the outside that a little rain never bothers us. (One of my daughter's favorite things to do is get on her rain boots and raincoat and look for puddles.) That being said, we go to zoo often – even in the winter.
Let us also note that Portland is very nursing-friendly. Oregon is actually ranked #1 for breastfeeding mothers, with more than 55% breastfeeding for 6 months or longer (see footnote 1). This is not surprising to us nursing mamas who live in the state. In fact, while I did not locate any statistics for Portland as a city, I can assure you that it is greater then the state's average.
I'm sharing all of this information with you because the one major issue with going to the zoo is nursing. Given Portland's breastfeeding-friendly status, it's a little odd. It is especially difficult in the damp winter months when stripping down and nursing your child on a wet, cold bench is something that neither mama nor baby really enjoy. In the summer, it is obviously not as traumatic to the body, but the zoo is as crowded as ever.
Now that our babes have entered the exciting phase where they love to explore the sights and sounds more (and as I explained, the zoo is wonderful for this), we mothers are typically left with one boob wildly exposed throughout much of the “nursing” session. Covering up to minimize distractions is not an option for either of our infants – like so many others - because they simply yank the blanket/cover off. But most importantly: Ensuring the safety of our older children during these boob-exposing nursing sessions. Now, our three year olds are both very well behaved, but they are only three after all.
As far as we know, the Oregon Zoo has not discriminated against a mom for nursing on zoo grounds (i.e. asking them to leave, cover-up, nurse in another location, etc.). In fact, nursing moms at the zoo do not have the option of going to a nursing room, so boobs and babes abound!
To be truthful, this was actually Amy's mission before it became mine. Before I made my comment to her about how brave she was to go to the zoo alone with her kids for three hours, she had already done some legwork on this matter. Once I made my comment, we talked and decided to take on this mission together.
In Amy's research, she discovered the zoo does allow nursing moms – who seek privacy- to use their First Aid rooms. Two of them are marked on the map (one at the entrance, which isn't conveniently located, and one in the middle of the zoo). There is an additional First Aid station that is not marked on the map. It took years to uncover where this was: In one of the administration buildings (but who can be sure when it’s not marked on the map or has any outward signs of its existence?!) All of these rooms, however, are locked. You have to find a zoo employee, who is not busy, to unlock the door.
Additionally, the First Aid room located in the middle of the zoo is in an area that is currently under construction (more on that later!). It is also connected to an open janitor's closet which is filled with cleaning supplies. This poses various issues for the mom who also has a toddler (or multiple other children) who is unoccupied while mom is nursing. The big stipulation for this is that if there is a medical emergency, which could be anything from heatstroke to a bee sting, that takes precedence. You would need to immediately vacate that space – nursing baby, stroller, other children in tow, etc. OUT.
Do we mention the phone booth size dimensions? Or should we point out that any mom in the world who takes a moment to breastfeed her baby is also going to do a diaper change at the same time. The only available surface to do this in the First Aid room is on the gurney. Does the thought of cross contamination come to mind? ‘Nuff said.
Unfortunately, the Oregon Zoo is not alone in not providing a nursing room at their zoo. In 2001 Utah's Hogle Zoo became the first zoo in the country to offer a nursing room. We found it kind of sad that zoos, of all places, do not provide this for families. It is our hope, and our mission, that the Oregon Zoo will become the second zoo to offer this to nursing mothers.
Two days ago, we sent a letter requesting a meeting to discuss the absence of a nursing room at the zoo to Oregon Zoo Director, Tony Vecchia and the zoo's deputy director of operations, Carmen Hannold. We hope that they are receptive to a meeting.
Why the blog? We wanted a place to share how this process evolves and what steps it will take to make this mission a reality.
Who knows, maybe you won't be seeing my boob during your next trip to the zoo...
1. www.oregonlive.com/kiddo/index.ssf/2008/08/oregon_ranks_no_1_in_breastfee.html
To give you a little more insight, we live in Portland, home of the Oregon Zoo. We both have two children who are roughly the same ages, our oldest children are both three years old and our youngest children are both less then a year old. The youngest children are breastfed. Also important to note, is that we are both currently staying at home (I struggle with a term for myself: stay-at-home mom, or SAHM, and domestic engineer both make me a bit nauseous).
The zoo is an ideal place to take our kids. Plus, it's something we can do when on a solo outing with the kids. Our older children can explore all of the different animals and habitats while burning off some of their excess energy. Our younger children are content to look at all the sights that the zoo offers or drift off to sleep in their strollers. It's a wonderful place. In fact, both of our families are loyal zoo members.
While Portland is notoriously damp in the winter months, we Portlanders do not let this hamper our outdoor adventures. The city offers so many wonderful ways to explore the outside that a little rain never bothers us. (One of my daughter's favorite things to do is get on her rain boots and raincoat and look for puddles.) That being said, we go to zoo often – even in the winter.
Let us also note that Portland is very nursing-friendly. Oregon is actually ranked #1 for breastfeeding mothers, with more than 55% breastfeeding for 6 months or longer (see footnote 1). This is not surprising to us nursing mamas who live in the state. In fact, while I did not locate any statistics for Portland as a city, I can assure you that it is greater then the state's average.
I'm sharing all of this information with you because the one major issue with going to the zoo is nursing. Given Portland's breastfeeding-friendly status, it's a little odd. It is especially difficult in the damp winter months when stripping down and nursing your child on a wet, cold bench is something that neither mama nor baby really enjoy. In the summer, it is obviously not as traumatic to the body, but the zoo is as crowded as ever.
Now that our babes have entered the exciting phase where they love to explore the sights and sounds more (and as I explained, the zoo is wonderful for this), we mothers are typically left with one boob wildly exposed throughout much of the “nursing” session. Covering up to minimize distractions is not an option for either of our infants – like so many others - because they simply yank the blanket/cover off. But most importantly: Ensuring the safety of our older children during these boob-exposing nursing sessions. Now, our three year olds are both very well behaved, but they are only three after all.
As far as we know, the Oregon Zoo has not discriminated against a mom for nursing on zoo grounds (i.e. asking them to leave, cover-up, nurse in another location, etc.). In fact, nursing moms at the zoo do not have the option of going to a nursing room, so boobs and babes abound!
To be truthful, this was actually Amy's mission before it became mine. Before I made my comment to her about how brave she was to go to the zoo alone with her kids for three hours, she had already done some legwork on this matter. Once I made my comment, we talked and decided to take on this mission together.
In Amy's research, she discovered the zoo does allow nursing moms – who seek privacy- to use their First Aid rooms. Two of them are marked on the map (one at the entrance, which isn't conveniently located, and one in the middle of the zoo). There is an additional First Aid station that is not marked on the map. It took years to uncover where this was: In one of the administration buildings (but who can be sure when it’s not marked on the map or has any outward signs of its existence?!) All of these rooms, however, are locked. You have to find a zoo employee, who is not busy, to unlock the door.
Additionally, the First Aid room located in the middle of the zoo is in an area that is currently under construction (more on that later!). It is also connected to an open janitor's closet which is filled with cleaning supplies. This poses various issues for the mom who also has a toddler (or multiple other children) who is unoccupied while mom is nursing. The big stipulation for this is that if there is a medical emergency, which could be anything from heatstroke to a bee sting, that takes precedence. You would need to immediately vacate that space – nursing baby, stroller, other children in tow, etc. OUT.
Do we mention the phone booth size dimensions? Or should we point out that any mom in the world who takes a moment to breastfeed her baby is also going to do a diaper change at the same time. The only available surface to do this in the First Aid room is on the gurney. Does the thought of cross contamination come to mind? ‘Nuff said.
Unfortunately, the Oregon Zoo is not alone in not providing a nursing room at their zoo. In 2001 Utah's Hogle Zoo became the first zoo in the country to offer a nursing room. We found it kind of sad that zoos, of all places, do not provide this for families. It is our hope, and our mission, that the Oregon Zoo will become the second zoo to offer this to nursing mothers.
Two days ago, we sent a letter requesting a meeting to discuss the absence of a nursing room at the zoo to Oregon Zoo Director, Tony Vecchia and the zoo's deputy director of operations, Carmen Hannold. We hope that they are receptive to a meeting.
Why the blog? We wanted a place to share how this process evolves and what steps it will take to make this mission a reality.
Who knows, maybe you won't be seeing my boob during your next trip to the zoo...
1. www.oregonlive.com/kiddo/index.ssf/2008/08/oregon_ranks_no_1_in_breastfee.html
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