Nursing Mother Goes to Court for Exam Time
The New York Times reports that one test stands between Sophie Currier and her Harvard medical degree. The problem? Currier is nursing her four month old daughter and needs time to pump during her nine hour board exam that allows only 45 minutes of break time.
The board initially denied her request, saying they can only accommodate conditions covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act. They told Currier that she’d be able to pump during breaks in another testing room. Test rooms are monitored and have glass walls. I don’t know about you, but pumping is hard enough without being in a monitored glass room. With the pressure to pump an adequate amount in a short period of time I’d certainly have some difficulty with let down.
Breastfeeding is not a disability, but it’s a circumstance that requires many accommodations, especially when the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies nurse exclusively for the first six months of life. Aside from the baby’s well-being, Currier runs the risk of becoming painfully engorged and possibly getting mastitis if she’s unable to pump at least twice during the two nine-hour test sessions. I had mastitis at least three times in the first year of Sam’s life. It’s not fun.
I really feel for Currier. If the court rules against her she’s basically screwed. How on earth will she be able to eat, use the bathroom and pump in the short time provided? How will she be able to concentrate on her board exam as her she begins to painfully swell beneath her shirt as the testing day progresses? I’m curious to see how this one turns out. Massachusetts is one of the states that does not protect a woman’s right to nurse. Let’s hope they protect this woman’s rights.
breastfeeding, right to pump, Massachusetts breastfeeding laws, pumping rooms
If Currier’s request is granted, this could be a huge victory for women’s rights.
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