Breastfeeding in public - what do you think?

[Perdita]

A mother was told to stop breastfeeding because she was contravening a leisure centre's poolside food and drink ban.
Laura Whotton began feeding her three-month-old son Joshua after they had a swim together, because he was hungry and starting to cry.
Both had towels draped around them as they sat on a bench by the poolside. But a male lifeguard spotted them and marched over to question Mrs Whotton.
The mother of two said she had taken care to cover up and he had to ask her: 'Are you breastfeeding?' She was then told: 'You are in a public area, you can't breastfeed because there are children here.'
The shocked mother explained she was entitled to 'by law' and told him she was not indecent and not offending anyone.
She was offered a 'private room' to breastfeed Joshua but refused because she was keeping an eye on her four-year-old son Thomas, who was swimming in a nearby toddler's pool.
When the lifeguard refused to back down, she decided to leave the leisure centre.
Mrs Whotton, 26, of Carrington in Nottingham, said: 'I felt really angry at being treated like that.
'I wasn't embarrassed because I didn't have anything on show. People in bikinis were showing more skin and breast than I was.
'It's the most natural thing in the world - and I was made to feel like I was doing something terrible.
'I've fed my baby on the bus and on a tram and in McDonald's. If he needs feeding I will do it.'
The incident happened on a Saturday afternoon earlier this month at the John Carroll Leisure Centre in Nottingham.
Mrs Whotton, who is married to Craig, 26, a hire car driver, lodged a complaint with Nottingham City Council.
A spokesman for the local authority said: 'The council's policy is to enable mothers to breastfeed in all council centres, including leisure centres.

The only exception to this rule at leisure centres is in the swimming pool and surrounding area, where, in the interests of safety and hygiene, there is a policy of no food or drink.

This rule also covers breastfeeding, as it would the bottle feeding of a baby.'
Now the council has given her a 'full and open apology' and has 'reviewed and amended' its breastfeeding policy.

Operations manager Lee Kimberley told her the lifeguard at the pool was 'acting in accordance-with current policy'.

But he added: 'The manner in which it was done was not appropriate.'
Breastfeeding mothers are to get extra legal protection by the Equality Bill, which will become law next year if passed by Parliament.
This will give them the right to breastfeed a child in any public place and protect them from being forced out of cafes and shops.
It is being introduced after campaigners argued the rights were not clearly outlined or properly enforced under existing law.


Daily Mail

Read this and it got me wondering what you think about breastfeeding in public and whether you would or actually do it or not. :hmm:

[Trinity]

I do not have an issue with breast feeding in public - it is perfectly possibly to do it discreetly and to cause no offence.

This issue is different - if there is a blanket ban of food and drink - including babies bottles - and the ban should hold for breast feeding. The baby is just as likely to posset and sick up breast milk as any other food.

Sometimes the breast feeding mafia fight the wrong battles.

[Chloe O'brien]

I have no problems with mothers breast feeding in public places as it can be done disgreetly without causing embarassement to anyone, but in the interest of hygiene if it's not allowed in swimming areas then it is up to the organisation to display the appropraite signs and why the reasons are for not allowing brest feeding.

[Hollie-x]

It really annoys me when people are told they can't do it in public. If you are covered up and you feel comfortable in doing it then why the hell shouldn't you? When my mum had my brother we went to a wedding and he was about 2 months old and we were in this like family restaraunt place and my mum went and sat away from everyone else and fed him, no one could tell what she was doing but some snotty bloke from the bar came over and proper kicked off at my mum saying that if she wanted to feed my brother then she would have to go and do it in the disabled toilets. My dad was so mad, he went over to the bloke and was going would you eat your lunch/dinner in the toilets?

I also think that making that comment saying she couldn't do it because there were children there, surely children should be aware of it, not like have it shoved in their faces or whatever but it's a natural thing and I don't think they should be concealed from it if you get me.

But fair enough about the no eating/drinking thing, but I do think then maybe they should have the needed facilities because it's obviously a family place and so this, I'm guessing, would be needed.

[miccisy]

I think if breastfeeding is not allowed in these areas then it should be clearly stated. Although i do agree that breastfeeding shouldnt be done at the side of the pool for hygeine reasons.

When i eventually (hopefully anytime) have my baby i will be breastfeeding and will do it wherever and whenever he needs feeding. If someone doesnt like it then they can leave because i will refuse to starve my child because someone else doesnt like it. Breastfeeding is a natural thing afterall.

[Perdita]

Plenty of stores and shops have special rooms where mums can go and breastfeed in a comfortable surrounding. Especially where young families gather like the swimming pool the authorities should provide this, toilets are totally unacceptable.

[miccisy]

Also, i would never feed my baby in the toilets. That would disgusting.

If i am sat in a cafe or restaurant and he wants feeding then i will feed him and treat it no differently to someone who is bottle feeding.

[Hollie-x]

You do right, I really don't understand why people frown upon it. They're just as likely to give you an earful for having a screaming crying baby because he's hungry, so you can't win. It's other people who obviously have the problem and si if they don't like then they should be the ones to move away.

[Tigerpip]

Yes, breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world (so is sex – but I wouldn’t advocate doing it at the local swimming pool leisure centre in full view of the public!):rotfl:

I fed both my children (one of them for a year) and always managed to do it discreetly - it is possible if you wear the right clothing and have the right attitude!

I disagree with any mother feeding her baby in the loos – this is totally unacceptable.Most places allow discreet feeding at the discretion of the management.
On the other hand, some mothers do not even try to cover up though, and almost flaunt it – which I do not really approve of. Whilst breastfeeding if you wear clothing which allows you to tuck baby inside a top, or drape a blanket over baby and boob, then go ahead and feed – but *boobs out and sod everyone* is not such a good plan… and can cause embarrassment to certain people.:eek:

I cannot really see what the problem was with this case – maybe it was an over-enthusiastic employee trying to show his authority.
She was offered to use a private room, but the mother was right to protest and take issue as she was watching her other child.
However, I read in your post, that the lady in question has now received a full apology (and quite probably a free ticket for use of pool for a while too) so – the problem for future mums wanting to breastfeed has been rectified.
*T*:)

[Trinity]

I also breast fed my two children, albeit quite some time ago. I have seen changing attitudes over the years and now frequently see mothers breast feed in restaurants etc. If you are wearing a feeding bra and a loose top there is every likelihood that noone will even notice that you are feeding your child.

I remember a news story - or perhaps it was an urban myth - a few years ago when there was a 'nurse in' protesting at a cafe that wouldn't allow breast feeding - the local press attended and were asking the group when the feeding would start - it had started and none of them noticed!

I was in a cafe a few weeks ago in Edinburgh, it had bid bay windows with tables and chairs in them - a mum was feeding her child in the window of the cafe and no one commented at all.

The issue in this case is where she was breast feeding - at the poolside - where no food or drink is allowed.

I imagine that the young lifeguard probably said the wrong thing, and was quite possibly flustered - however I do not believe that someone should be allowed to breast feed at the pool side for hygiene reasons, for exactly the same reasons that you are not allowed to eat crisps or drink coke.

If you are not allowed to feed a baby a bottle in a location then it is understandable that breast feeding mothers should follow the same rules for the same reason.

Just because breast feeding is natural doesn't mean that you should do it anywhere.

Sometimes you do have to stop what you are doing and go to the cafe, or somewhere that eating is allowed.

There is no way any woman should have to feed their child in a toilet cubicle but this was not suggested at any time.

I think that this girl totally over-reacted, and that people agree with her because they are fighting a war that has already been won

[Pinkbanana]

I have to say... I don't like to see women breast feeding in public. Shoot me down in flames, but it's just my opinion.

[Perdita]

I am not comfortable with it either, PB, we go down in flames together

[StarsOfCCTV]

I don't feel comfortable seeing breastfeeding but its my problem, not theirs. If a woman wants to breastfeed though I would never anything as its rude, they have the right afterall.

[Perdita]

I am the same as you, I would never comment or do anything, I just prefer not to see it.

[Chloe O'brien]

I breast fed my daughter but I didn't do it in public, I was lucky enough that she only woke every four hours for a feed so I was able to get out and home again before she got hungry. If I had another child I would feed them but I would be discreet. I can understand that it can be uncomfortable forr some but I think there was faults and both sides. The swimming pool staff may didn't approach the girl right and the mother made a scene because she would go for the sympathy vote.

[Trinity]

To be honest, if breast feeding is done is a discreet was you would probably not even notice it.

One bra cup comes down, you t-shirt is covering the top of your breast and the baby is covering the rest. You can get the t-shirt back down when the baby comes off without any one seeing anything.


When people try to breast feed with tops that unbutton it is harder to be discreet, and people who just get their whole breast out and don't even try to be discreet are actually disrespecting everyone else if you ask me.

Yes we all do have a right to feed our babies, but other people also have a right to go out without being made to feel uncomfortable.

Discreet breast feeding allows both - but the breast feeding mafia who need to make a huge issue about feeding, exposing their whole breast and making no allowances for other people are just as bad as the people who feel that babies should be fed in the toilets.

[Abbie]

I dont mind it but I do think that mothers should try to be discreet just because, I think that breasts should be kept private and I know whats awkward to say because breast feeding is one of the most natural things but its just my opinion

[miccisy]

There are lots of discreet clothing these days.

I have a few nursing bras that unclip to make breastfeeding easier.
I also bought some tops from mothercare which are double layered. When baby wants feeding you pull up the top layer and the second layer has a gap in each side so i can easily unclip my bra and feed him without anyone noticing.

[Dutchgirl]

Well they say (In the Netherland anyway) that breastfeeding is the best thing for your child. I did not breastfeed my little girl. So I always took a bottle with me. But now with my little boy I do . I hurry home if he starts to cry when I'm out shopping. Because in the Netherlands people do not take it well if mothers breastfeed. And the Dutch are not shy as everybody knows. I feel a bit prohibited in my movements.

And not breastfeeding in accordance of hygiene around a pool area is ridiculous. They have chlorine in the water haven't they? Here they even sell crisps and soft drinks at the pool side.

[Emmykins]

I have no problem with breastfeeding as long as the woman is not blatently doing it, i think as long as there discret its okay! x