Little Wiggler, Little Learner

I'm a graduate student. I am working towards my Masters degree in English, of all things. I spend most of my time sitting on my butt either reading or writing. I really need to get out more, and hopefully, I will once this semester is over.
There is something perverse about the relationship between the mother and the fetus. She is active and walking and driving and the developing person is lulled and quiet. The expectant mother is sitting quietly and trying to concentrate (or God-forbid, sleep) and suddenly there is an acrobatic routine underway in her midsection. Usually, the tickly, fluttery feeling makes me smile and rub my belly and I say sweet loving things. Usually. Lately, as the semester winds to a close and my stress levels rise, I've been more annoyed by the distraction than enthralled by it. It's hard to write a cohesive and concise sentence about race relations in the 1850's near the Ohio border when someone seems to have the hiccups right under your own rib cage. I need to finish my papers soon.

I went to meet with a professor yesterday. I wanted to speak with him about the baby. The due date is within a week of classes starting in the fall semester. I completely plan to be at the first class, but I will be wearing the infant. I figured that my professors deserve a heads-up that there will be an extra person in their classes. I also wanted to give fair warning about the fact that I will be nursing on demand. The professor was completely indisposed. He sent me an email apologizing for his insane schedule. I emailed him back. I think I was pretty cool about it:

"I am expecting my second child the week before classes begin. Since it is my second, no one expects that I will go much past my due date, so I fully plan on being in attendance for the first class. As the baby will be so young, I will be wearing him to class. As I do not want to be a disruption, I will arrive early to let classmates see the baby and warn them that I will be nursing occasionally. With the baby in the sling, I doubt anyone will actually notice. 

Once the baby is old enough to take a bottle I will be able to leave him at home, but for the first six to eight weeks, he will be my constant companion.

I hope you understand. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. We have a whole summer to work it out."

I also sent it to my other fall semester professor, with whom I have been unable to connect. The professor I feared more sent me a nice email wishing me luck, he saw no problems with my plan, and he looked forward to meeting both of us! The super busy professor hasn't emailed me back yet. 

I was really scared. I was so scared that I contacted the UVM Title IX coordinator, the UVM Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, and the Vermont Human Rights Commission. UVM has all kinds of protections for nursing employees, but I could find nothing on the books for nursing students. There are lots of assumptions that since I'm a graduate student that I am also an employee. As nice as that would be, I'm not; the HR department has nothing to offer me. 

Bottom line was that I tell, don't ask, my professors that I will be nursing and if I run into flak I let the OAAEO know and they will see how they can help me and if that doesn't go anywhere, the VHRC contact I spoke with said that they would be on my side should I have to go to court against UVM. Having sent out the email to my professors, I feel like I may have overreacted, but I'm glad I did it. I like knowing where I stand. 

Once I get a reply from the very busy professor, and my seminar papers are submitted, I can spend the summer reading for comps and working on my thesis. Wait. I told Bryn I would nest. I'll do that too, but I really want to read for my comps. I'm so excited by my topic. 

Remind me that I need to find a sling. Alex hated being swaddled and in a sling. This kid is going to have to like the sling. I'll also need some nursing bras and tops. Oy. I keep forgetting how expensive this whole baby thing is...