Coeur d'Alene mom creates petition to change breastfeeding law

(STORY IMAGE:KHQ.COM)

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -A Coeur d'Alene mother has made it all the way to the White House with her petition and now she's seeking signatures for change.

Her idea, extend the federal law that allows mothers the time and space to adequately breastfeed their babies at work.

With four kids, Brooke Barron has her hands full.

Her youngest, Amara, is 13-months old and keeps her busy from play-time to breastfeeding.

"She's still heavily breastfed, she loves breast milk," Barron said.

Brooke is an advocate for breastfeeding past one years old.

Federal law states that a mother can breastfeed and pump at work until the baby is one.

She says her employer recently allowed her 15 extra minutes during her shift to pump, but she thinks the federal law should extend the age to two years old.

"Imagine having cinder blocks tied to your chest and having to do your job, that's what it's like," Barron said.

According to the World Health Organization, babies can be breast fed up to two years or older.

"The bond that I have with her, I don't think it should stop at one because a federal law says 'too bad, you're not protected anymore'," Barron said, 'she's not ready to give it up, I'm not ready to give it up."

Brooke recently created a petition on the White House's website to extend the federal law.

She's posted it on Facebook and other social media sites hoping to gain traction.

So far, she's received 500 signatures but needs 100,000 in 30 days for it to be read before Congress.

"If we could just change that one word to two years of age, we can pass off an amendment, a new law, new bill, something," Barron said.

To find the petition, click here.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/breastfeeding-protecting-mothers-and-babies-until-age-2


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