Convicted Marion Jones Breastfeeding Her Seven-Month-Old Baby
January 14, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding
Was anyone else saddened to read about the prison sentence for Olympic athlete and breastfeeding mother Marion Jones? I certainly do not condone doping, lying, or the breaking of any law, and I don’t think she should escape punishment in some form. But I cried, thinking of the nursling, as I read this article in the LA Times:
“I absolutely realize the gravity of the offenses I’ve committed, and I am deeply sorry,” [Jones] said. She began to cry as she pleaded with the judge to not separate her from her 4-year-old son and 7-month-old baby, whom she is still nursing.
The case was tried in federal court, and according to the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
[M]others in federal prison have the right to breastfeed their babies during regular visitation periods. Also, breastfeeding can be considered as a factor in federal sentencing proceedings.
Unfortunately, the judge felt prison time was necessary to send a message.
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Karas said that he considered probation or home detention for Jones, who has two young children and has been publicly repentant. Jones voluntarily gave up her five Olympic medals in December after confessing in court in October to using banned drugs.
But the judge decided that her sentence must send a message.
“There is a very strong argument that incarceration may make others think twice and show that no one is above the legal obligation to tell the truth,” Karas said.
Jones has until March 11 to begin serving her sentence.
I am not sad for Marion, but my heart breaks for her child.
Given that justice is slow and she has money, I wonder if she could just sue or something, delay by a few months. At least until the baby is a year.
Really sad.
She could appeal, but there would need to be grounds to do so. She may just want to serve her time and get it behind her.
I’d be surprised if she served all 6 months. If it isn’t a long time, she could try to maintain her milk supply in prison and/or relactate after if it’s important to her.
What’s really sad is our justice system at times. If this case hadn’t been made so public, she would have undoubtedly gotten home confinement or probation – especially given the fact that she’s breastfeeding – because the judge wouldn’t have had such a huge audience to send a “message” to.
I hope whatever her plans are work out for her.
Seems to me they’re making an example of how unimportant breastfeeding is viewed in our culture because, really, what’s the big deal? I mean the child is so old – already 7 months! – and still nursing?!? Give that kid a bottle and some Cheerios and he’ll be just fine!
You know this will be the attitude of many. You could argue that separating the nursling from his mother is similar to if she was still pregnant with him and they yanked him out by his umbillical cord so she could serve her sentence. An extreme example, I know, but that’s how me and my nursling would feel if we were suddenly cut off from one another…severed.
There would have been a hundred other ways to punish her and if jail time was necessary, the judge could have deferred it for a few years.
To all those ignorant replies ahead and above me.
Whosoever thinks that breastfeeding can be abruptly stopped without any recourse to the mother or child is an absolute trailer-trash idiot.
I mean you must be going back to your “quaker-roots” to come up with those replies.
You know nothing of what a bond between a mother and child is. I am sure each and everyone of you had a chain smoking, vodka sucking mother who gave two craps about you and that is why you feel the way that you do.
Avery, it seems to me that all the commenters are in agreement that it would be best if mother and child were allowed to continue nursing or to wean at a gentle pace (some were anticipating unfortunate beliefs others might hold). You are right — it is so sad to break that mother/child nursing bond abruptly.
Your right, Ms White, I may have jumped the reading the first reply and the last reply didn’t have the correct quotation that would signify she was making a statement otherwise.
I am nursing and will allow my baby to self-wean.
So, the “seven month bottle and cheerio” quote was really too much.
A bond between a mother and a breastfeeding child is unlike any other her on earth. separation without proper weaning will be detrimental to child, which would affect his trust in others. Hopefully they will allow time for successful weaning to occur.