Do You DWB? (Drive While Breastfeeding)

on March 3, 2009 at 6:54 AM

Genine Compton does.The 39-year-old Ohio woman was charged with child endangerment after another driver reported that Compton was breastfeeding and talking on a cell phone while driving. That's one pretty impressive (but maybe not so wise) multi-tasking mama. I recently wrote a post about what other tasks moms get done while breastfeeding, and not one mentioned driving.

The police tracked Compton down by her license plate number and she said she would not let her child go hungry. The legal concern is not that she was breastfeeding in public but that she had a baby in her lap (rather than in a car seat). Compton faces up to 180 days in jail and an $1,800 fine if convicted.

What do you think? Should she go to jail?

About the author Suzanne Murray

is the Parenting & Political editor at The Stir/Moms Matter 2012.

Filed Under: breastfeeding

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Comments (29)

aeneva

on Mar 3, 2009 at 7:24 AM

I have in a pinch nursed my child while DH was driving and the babe was still in the car seat. I simply unbuckled and leaned over the seat. I have also pumped into a bottle while DH was driving and then given it to the screaming kid. Both these instances were on long road trips with other families in other cars. I would never do it while taking the kids to the store or school. The child can wait for 15 mintues until you get to the school for goodness sakes! I personally thinks she deserves what she gets. She was irresponsible by doing that unless we aren't getting the whole story which may be the case also.

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ChristianBabe87

on Mar 3, 2009 at 7:43 AM

No I never breastfed while driving. I however think she shouldnt go to jail maybe some type of house arrest or something. Because the baby will still need the milk and the baby cant get that if mom is in jail.

rainbowsquirrel

on Mar 3, 2009 at 8:19 AM

wow, the potential danger of what could happen to that poor child if she has to stop suddenly...or if she is involved in a crash...i agree with aeneva that the child can wait, instead of literally putting the child's life in danger.

Jessy0419

on Mar 3, 2009 at 8:28 AM

Why is it so hard to pull over and feed your child? Or better yet...schedule your outings around feedings, like feed the leave right after?

I don't think she should go to jail and I don't think that taking the baby/getting CPS involved are the way to handle this. Maybe make her take some sort of carseat safety course?

lilianasmom4508

on Mar 3, 2009 at 8:43 AM

I think that this woman is a complete idiot. The child will NOT starve to death or go hungry while you take your kids to school. This sounds like a woman who can't stand her child's crying. Well, babies cry when they're hungry, so feed the baby right before you leave instead of driving, talking on the phone (which is, in most states, against the law in and of itself) and breastfeeding the baby. Sounds like she needs to rearrange her schedule a little bit, or get involved with a rotating carpool with other moms so she doesn't have to take the kids to school every single day by herself.

Peajewel

on Mar 3, 2009 at 8:59 AM

I was shocked when I saw this on the news yesterday! And she even thinks she had the right to be doing it. I just can't believe that a Mother would be that crazy! I too have pumped while on a trip or unbuckled myself to nurse my daughter while she was in her car seat but I was not driving and my little one stayed in her seat. I used to do a lot of things while my daughter nursed. I cooked, cleaned, played on Cafemom. But driving I would never attempt! I don't know that she deserves to go to jail for doing it but she should have to pay a fine and I think that some how someone should educate her on the dangers of what she is doing.

MagnaMeg

on Mar 3, 2009 at 9:32 AM

I'm a huge advocate for breastfeeding, but this woman clearly wasn't thinking. Pulling over would have been the reasonable thing to do. If you can pull over to talk on a stupid cell phone, one can certainly take into account the safety of a child and pull the eff over.

And no, her baby wouldn't have starved. Like I said, this woman clearly wasn't thinking.

DixieDivaJen

on Mar 3, 2009 at 9:33 AM

UGH. Ignorance!!! Like a PP I have simply either pulled over to feed my child, or if I was stuck in traffic and couldnt pull over I climbed in the back and leaned over her carseat and left her buckled while I fed her! The importance of the car seat outweighs the importantance of breastfeeding.

sstepph

on Mar 3, 2009 at 9:34 AM

Not hard to pull over and breastfeed or pump a bottle before you leave the house! That is so unsafe and if she would have wrecked the baby would have died in an instant. Ugh it makes me sick!

ma2mcs11396

on Mar 3, 2009 at 9:46 AM

I breastfed my son, I used to run into the store with a crying baby, to the fitting rooms. This "mom" was completely irresponsible. She should not go to jail but some sort of re-educating should occur.