I got a jury summons and Maryland doesn't specifically recognize breastfeeding as a reason to ask for an exemption or postponement.

Contact the court, you never know.

My mother got a jury duty summons in Wisconsin during the mid-80s. The rules in that county were that, when you were called, you served a total of 10 days on an as-needed basis. (There wasn't a jury trial every week, so it didn't make sense to ask potential jurors to show up every day.) Over the summer, she served 3 of her 10 days.

Now, after I graduated high school (in 1980), my mother started taking college classes herself. She'd previously arranged to start attending college full-time that fall. And she was called for a big trial on the same day as the first day of classes.

She contacted the court before the trial date and explained the situation. The judge not only excused her from jury duty for that trial, he waived the rest of her service as well.

(Ironic twist that isn't really relevant to the jury duty part of this -- I later worked on the same case. A couple summers later, I clerked for the same judge. Meanwhile, the jury's decision in the case had been appealed and remanded to the judge for further action. So the judge asked me to research the issues. And there was my mother's name in the record.)

Take the munchkin with you and just start feeding during voir dire. When you hear the gasps, just say "this won't be a problem during the trial, will it?"

I would totally show up with a big wet splotch on the front of my shirt and apologize with detailed explanation of the problem.

Contact the court, you never know.

The letter is already written, signed and sealed up for mailing. If they make me appear, I will certainly try to embarrass them without embarrassing myself. Still, I think this is something I shouldn't have to explain at all. I thank my lucky stars that I work in a place where I have a private office, that already had shades on the windows, that has a secure lock on the door, with understanding colleagues who know I have to lock myself in every 3 hours, etc., etc.,

Except for that one person who thinks your door should always be open.

Good luck, Sparky. How frustrating.

At our ultrasound yesterday, baby was in the frank breech position (head up, legs folded up with feet near face). He is already a character! Anyway, I have to go back next week to see if he's in a better position for them to check his heart and other important items.

OB said he is a big boy and weighs 5 lbs (at 32 weeks). He acted like I needed to watch my food intake, but I'm honestly not going nuts with sugar and the like. I have only gained in my belly. OB and partner are big into childhood obesity research and he was freaking me out talking about weight issues and such. I'm like, "He's not even born yet!" I have lots of 6' and taller men in my family and my brother and I were both big babies (bro was 9 lbs, 2 oz and I was 9 lbs). Neither of us have weight issues. I also have to have my 4th (!!!!) 1 hour glucose test. So. Over. It. Just give me my baby already!

He is already a character!

So, he's already trying to moon people, huh?

I guess you can try the radio between your legs trick to get him to turn around so they can get their measurements. Does it matter which way he's going for the C-section? I have no idea if it impacts the direction of the incision.

The margin for error on the baby weight guess is so large, you can't put much stock into what they say. And fooey on another glucose test!

Does it matter which way he's going for the C-section? I have no idea if it impacts the direction of the incision.

Nope, doesn't matter for C-section, so at least there's that. I've heard that about the margin of error and wonder why he's making such a fuss about it. I'm a little frustrated by it, especially when I had my regular OB appt last Friday where they told me I'd lost 2 lbs since my previous appt and said I was measuring normally. Grrrr.

Good luck with the glucose test, GC! I was frank breech, if that's any indication. I actually came out that way. I hope Glambaby decides head first is a better option.

Now I see you're going in for a c-section.

I should probably call and apologize to my mom again while I'm thinking about it.

I *finally* got my prescription through from my physio for this! I have to pay myself, but I've been saving up for the six months it's taken them to decide which walker I need. I'm really glad it's this one. It's great for carrying enormous numbers of books.

I spent $240 out of pocket on my mental health alone last month

Ouch. That's difficult. I do keep getting reminded how lucky I am to live somewhere with a National Health Service. Yes, waiting lists are horrific (see above re: waiting six months for a prescription for a walker that I have to buy myself anyway), but I do get a number of fairly expensive medications for about £15 a month. (Have to pay for other things, including therapy - but I haven't had time for that in a while...!) I hope your expenses get a bit easier to deal with, smonster. This recession bites. On the jugular.

If they make me appear, I will certainly try to embarrass them without embarrassing myself.

I think that's only fair. Clearly they have no concept of what the first few months of motherhood involve, and need educating. I hope they agree to postpone or exempt you.

ETA:

OB and partner are big into childhood obesity research and he was freaking me out talking about weight issues and such. I'm like, "He's not even born yet!"

Definitely too early to worry about it! That's really ridiculous.