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I am a breastfeeding mother who is on probation for a DUI from six years ago. I had a review hearing and was sentenced to 30 more days in jail because I admitted to drinking A beer! My doctor and the child’s pediatrician wrote letters to recommend house arrest and they wouldn’t allow it. I, too, think the justice system needs tweaking because I am not the one being punished. My child and the people who look after the child are the ones suffering the consequences. ~~I’m getting a full nights sleep for the first time in months!

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Lucie Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:27 am

I am also a nursing mother with a previous DUI charge. I was sentenced to one day in jail. I had the choice of either 15 days home detention or one day in jail in the medical unit WITH MY BREAST PUMP so that when I got out I could continue nursing my newborn. With my baby taken care of and the medical unit and breastpump all set up I went to report for my 24 hours in jail. They would not allow me to have my pump. I repeadedly asked for it, pleading that it was already set up and how much pain I was in. I told them it takes about 10 minutes to pump and that I could certainly do it under direct supervision. No, they said.

I went 24 hours without being able to pump even tho I was told ahead of time or I never would have chose the 24 hours in jail over the 15 day home detention.

The worst part is, after that short amount of time my milk supply shut off and I was unable to breastfeed my 3 month old. Not to mention the intense amount of pain I was in for that 24 hours. I am furious and feel like my civil rights have been violated and currently working on a formal complaint against the state if not worse.

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Ashley Reply:
May 4th, 2010 at 5:51 pm

@Lucie,
Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry! That is such bull**** that they didnt let you use your pump.
I’m sorry Mama.

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Did you not READ…… anything about the benefits of Breastfeeding. You and your febile brain need to educate yourself. For one thing this incarcerated mother will SAVE us money in the long run for breastfeeding her baby in many many ways. Babies were not made to drink cow’s milk, babies need human milk…

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Michelle Reply:
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:51 pm

I AM A NURSING 17 YR OLD MOM THAT WAS ARRESTED TWO DAYS AGO FOR BATTERY CHARGES. I EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFEED MY TEN MONTH OLD SO WHEN I WAS I GOT ENCARCERATED I WENT THROUGH THE HORRIBLE PAIN OF ENGORGEMENT. IT WAS TERRIBLE , ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS TO TAKE A HOT SHOWER. LIKE REALLY ? I WAS IN DANGER OF MASISTIS (SPELL CHECK) MEANWHILE MY BABY WAS STUCK AT HOME WITHOUT ANY FORMULA OR BOTTLES SO ALL SHE ATE WAS GERBER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.

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Danielle Ferreira has been reunited with her children, but the long-term issues remain. Jail officials are asking for a review of breastfeeding policy. Other jails have said they don’t allow breastmilk pumping because of the liability issues in case the milk would become contaminated and the baby got sick. What a cop-out, or put more positively, this should be a solvable problem.

Updated coverage of Danielle Ferreira’s story in The Charlotte Observer:
http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/381449.html

I am most worried about people being incarcerated for status offenses. I am not an immigration expert by any means, but local activists have told me about the severe effects of ICE raids in North Carolina. Equally worrisome to me is the idea that anti-immigrant sentiment is the last bastion of sanctioned racism.

The Charlotte Oberver says that “Since last year, the Mecklenburg jail has participated in a federal program that identifies illegal immigrants after they are arrested and turns them over to immigration officials.” We all need to learn a lot more about this program that empowers local lawenforcement agencies to perform immigration functions. See the US Customs and Immigration page for more information on this “ICE ACCESS” program. Of course it is promoted as an effort to reduce violent crime it’s also sweeping up people who have not committed anything other than status offenses. Please read this recent New York Times editorial about the armed midnight raids that have terrorized families:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/opinion/04thur2.html

Amy Tiemann, creator of MojoMom.com

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This is so egregious. What a nightmare for that poor mother and her needlessly hungry baby. Are people flooding the Charlotte jail with calls?

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The way we treat mothers in custody is needlessly harsh and damaging to their children. Many mothers are imprisoned for nonviolent offenses, such as this case.

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In SHORT, I applaud the administration at the jail for having the forethought to consider the health implications for the child of that Mom. Perhaps, in her obvious emotional state, the mother wasn’t thinking clearly. Perhaps, some of you are overlooking the serious health concerns involved with something so “simple” or you just don’t realize what she’s asking here and the consequences attached.

It’s not simple, there ARE financial and legal implications to provide such a “service” for incarcerated women (remember, she is in JAIL) and, most importantly, the concern for the safety and well being of the child far outweighs her wishes.

For my LONGER and more detailed response, This issue SOOOOOOO got my juices flowing, I wrote my own response. See it here…

http://www.empowermom.com/hot001.html

Have an Empowered Day!

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This does not suprise me! Today many families live in fear of our goverment. So when you hear of cases like these it just verifies what I already know. Our goverment is BRAINWASHING the local goverments through the MEDIA, and policy it makes, and through its local Policy Makers!! Where I live you see and hear about these kind of issues and they try to make normal people/families look like criminals when they are just minding there own business. When somebody tries to stand up and defend what they believe to be right morally, our goverment slaps them with criminal charges.
Change starts at the local level. Who we elect as Sheriff, Board of Education, Mayor, Govenor, House Representative, Senator! Of course money buys votes, but we the common people need to rally together to daily, in each city to make our Goverment change. Again this type of situation just proves to show that goverment is trying to control the masses, and oppress the Free Country called America!!!!

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Excuse me but apparently you are not educated about the benefits of breastfeeding. This baby was spitting up and not able to digest that old formula. Babies are not intended to be fed that old chalky formula, but mother’s milk.

I think it is criminal not to breastfeed – there are many untrue excuses as to why women are not breastfeeding – it is rare for a mother not to be able to breastfeed or have enough milk. I am horrified that this baby has been punished – its mother was taken away from it as a newborn and the wonderful nourishment from its mother, too. This baby was born in this country and has rights as a citizen whether or not the mother has done something wrong. She was also postpartum – what a horrible way to treat her!!! But we have no respect in this country for new mothers and their babies – just look at the length of the unpaid maternity leaves most mothers have to put up with.

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My heart goes out to this mother. Immigrant or not, her health and health of her baby were put at risk. She committed a non violant offense, she was not a danger to anyone, jail is for convicted criminals, not nursing mommy’s.

I too ama nursing mother, I have 4 children. April 11th, I was arrested for moving MY car. I did not know I was not allowed to. Th officer arrested me knowing I had a nursing baby right there. I asked ot nurse her before he took me away. I was kept for nearly 24 hours in jail. I asked to pump or have the baby brought to me to nurse many times. I explained how mastistis happens and that I had had it before so that makes me prone. All my children are daily sensitive with many allergies and apparently females should not eat soy now. So my exclusively nursing babies food options were greatly impacted while I was away.

Don’t be fooled, this can happen to ANYONE. I am a 29 yr old white American house wife with no record. I have never been in trouble with the law. Yet, here I am, already spent one night/day in jail and I am looking at up to a year for the trumped up charge I have been given. Wake up people, post 911 America is NOT a free country.

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