Allen County City Council Supports Rephrasing City Ordinance to Support Breastfeeding

Hayley Derryberry, the former owner of Derryberry Breadery, is making waves in the Iola community by advocating for a significant change in city code that impacts breastfeeding mothers. Derryberry reached out to two our coalition members at their place of employment: Brittany Frishman and Khloe Utley as well as getting connected with Brenda Bandy, the Executive Director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, and Logan Stenseng, a board member of the KBC. Together, they are working to urge the Iola City Council to examine and amend an outdated code that currently prohibits women from breastfeeding in drinking establishments.

The code in question, found in Chapter 3, Article 4, states that “permitting any person to remain in or upon premises who exposes to view any portion of the female breast,” is prohibited. This regulation came to mind as Derryberry hosted a breastfeeding brunch and realized that, technically, the event would not be allowed under the city’s current laws.

Kansas state law, however, stands firmly in support of breastfeeding mothers, protecting their right to breastfeed anywhere they have the right to be. The state law also encourages breastfeeding to be supported and normalized to the greatest extent possible. “The state’s regulation says a woman may breastfeed anywhere. Our city code does not, and that supersedes what the state says,” Derryberry explained.

Derryberry’s recent experience at her breastfeeding brunch highlighted another aspect of the issue. She made cupcakes shaped like breasts, a visual representation that, under the current code, might also be considered prohibited. “I don’t think that would be allowed with the current code,” she said. “I can tell it was probably put into place to stop bars from showing pornography or having strip clubs.”

Calling the code “antiquated,” Derryberry argues that society needs to move beyond merely allowing breastfeeding—it needs to normalize it. “It starts with normalizing the female breast and representation of it,” she said. She dismissed arguments about the need to “protect children” from seeing breasts in public, noting that most children are unfazed by it, especially if they’ve been around breastfeeding in their own families. “When parents say ‘don’t look at that’ to their children or ask you to cover up, that’s when kids start correlating it with something bad,” she added.

Derryberry believes that normalizing visual representations of the female form is crucial for changing societal perceptions. She recalled her own discomfort when she first began breastfeeding, attributing it to the sexualization of breasts. “If a person walked in on me in the bathroom, I found that they were always apologizing to me,” she said. “It was then I realized that I was making THEM uncomfortable.”

Brittany Frishman, echoed Derryberry’s sentiments, stressing the importance of supporting breastfeeding mothers in the community. “Babies who are breastfed are less likely to be sick,” she said, highlighting the benefits to both families and employers, as breastfeeding can lead to fewer sick days and lower healthcare costs. Frishman also pointed out the financial savings for families, especially as the cost of formula continues to rise.

Frishman further emphasized the social and mental health implications of inadequate support for breastfeeding mothers. “So many mothers are new and they don’t have the support they need,” she said. “In public, they are often forced to breastfeed in a dirty bathroom. Nobody wants to be fed in a public restroom.” She warned that some mothers might avoid going out altogether to avoid the discomfort, leading to isolation and increased risk of postpartum depression.

When Derryberry, Frishman, and Stenseng attended the city council meeting, the council members were more than willing to make changes to the wording of the ordinance to support breastfeeding. It is inspiring to live in a county where so many organizations and leaders are committed to supporting women and advancing healthcare initiatives. Being part of such a community is truly amazing.