Stephanie, is there some sort of La Leche League nearby? They might have (or know of someone) who makes the correctly worded harsh phone call so you can take your bar exam in peace.

I went out a second story window when I was 4 1/2. All I broke was an arm since kids are bendy at that age.

Have the faith, but be annoyed. It's stupid. It can't be an exposure thing, cause either feeding or pumping your boob is out. The funny thing, to me, is that a pump makes so much more noise than a nursing infant.

OOH! OOH! MAYBE she wants you to argue the point, a la a lawyer so that she'll be helping prepare you fer real lawyering!!!

Hi Bitches!

HI AIMS!!! How's the little cutie-pie? I haven't seen you or her in a while, and I'm missing you both.

And maybe a little bit that guy you live with, too.

Perhaps the BarNazi is worried about crying babies being disruptive to the other people taking the exam. While I think it's completely wrong that she's being snippy about it, I do know that if I was taking a major professional test that determined whether I'd be able to go on and practice said profession, and the profession did not involve babies, I would want to take it without the sound of crying babies.

HI AIMS!!! How's the little cutie-pie? I haven't seen you or her in a while, and I'm missing you both.

YEAH! WHere the hell have you been??? Jeebus.

Al Martinez' column last week was about meeting Jesus and whatsherfaces show. I thought of you.

Em is chewing on anything she can get her hands on including, but not limited to, her books, my books, dad's books (nothing funnier than baby with Shadowrun:Rigger or summat in her mouth), paper, cats, dog, and her thumb.

I just don't see any difference between allowing for pumping versus nursing. You have to leave the room for both. The noise issue is moot, because the pump is MUCH noisier than a nursing baby (unless said baby is crying, which nursing takes care of). Maybe they're worried about your mom passing you answers? If so, could they have a proctor pat her down? Check the baby's nappies for well hidden essay answers? I'd be tempting to sic the La Leche league on them, too.

If she thinks a nursing baby would be distracting, what about a full-scale nurse in (they do that)?

Stephanie, if you have the energy to make a fuss, I can certainly put you in touch with people who can help you raise one about nursing during the bar. "You can't bring the baby in the building" - What. The. Fuck. If you can pump in a bathroom, you can nurse a baby in a bathroom. Without disturbing anybody, and without cheating on the exam.

That said, if you think it's not worth the grief, I think the bottle should not be an issue. The thing to do is practice beforehand - practice your mother giving Peaberry a bottle, practice pumping, and practice being away from her all day long, or at least for half a day. You may even find it easier to NOT nurse her during the exam - I was very stressed out on the occasions when my sitter brought Eve to nurse during my lunch break while I was at work, and decided the closeness was not worth my angst.

I do know that if I was taking a major professional test that determined whether I'd be able to go on and practice said profession, and the profession did not involve babies, I would want to take it without the sound of crying babies.

Well, the idea was to nurse her in the bathroom.

Stephanie, I would ask what the difference is if you pump or have the baby there. When I took the bar exam many years ago, we had to have someone go with us if we had to leave the room (to go to the bathroom, for example) during the exam. I wonder if the answer is simply that they don't have someone to sit in the room with you, baby and your mom for the amount of time nursing would take, [eta: because then none of the other test takers would be able to leave the exam] but think they can put you somewhere alone with the breast pump without the babysitter to make sure you aren't cheating.

Well, the idea was to nurse her in the bathroom.

Ah. Then I have no idea what the BarNazi's problem is. I mean, I assume that everyone gets to go to the bathroom anyway, so it's not like it would be an extra perk for you.