To be appalled at this 'Breastfeeding Welcome' sticker?

[becsparkel]

There is (and has been for some years it would seem) a 'Breastfeeding Welcome' sticker on a TOILET door, in the antenatal department of King's College Hospital, in London. My friend tried to get the sticker removed a few years ago but it's still there. KCH is accredited stage 1 under UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative - this sticker is not baby friendly. The message is totally subversive.

If you tweet and feel inclined, their twitter account is @KingsCollegeNHS

[SomethingOnce]

It's a good point, OP.

My guess is that it was an old sticker left over from the days when using loos was seen as an acceptable way for women to be 'discreet'.

I'm sure the team at Kings would've been as keen as you to see it removed.

only for one of the professionally offended to call the wolves in and try to destroy them.

Now, that's an overreaction. Wolves, lol.

[ll31]

That's been such a good use of their ttime. Sorting out the sticker on the toilet door controversy. Can't wait to hear what major issue you'll address next.

[MrsLouisTheroux]

...and not because I agree with you.

[MrsLouisTheroux]

Make sure you go in to inspect the door at your earliest opportunity OP. This thread has annoyed me.

[greenbananas]

Wahey

These things are important. Baby Friendly is a great thing for encouraging hospitals to look at their practices more closely.

[becsparkel]

It's being removed today. King's are working towards stage 2 UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and they agree the sticker on the loo door is not an appropriate message to be sending out to prospective new mum's...

[CatAmongThePigeons]

cBeebies you must feed behind the notice board, we must take these things seriously!

[CbeebiesIsMyLife]

In my local hospital there's one of these stickers on a notice board does this mean bf is only alowed under the sticker? I read that one on the door to mean I can bf where ever I like in the unit

[sandberry]

Just email the breastfeeding coordinator and she will remove it for you.
Job done!

[0utnumbered]

People are WAY too sensitive about breast feeding! It's the law that you can do it pretty much anywhere. Some people may be uncomfortable seeing it but they can't exactly help that it doesn't make them awful people unless they start having a go at a mother who is feeding. The sticker, like others have said is probably there so women who are using the toilet are aware they are welcome to feed in the department/hospital, perhaps you should of asked the staff to clarify what it meant rather than all this!

[sparklekitty]

I would assume that it means they welcome breast feeling in the antenatal department. Maybe to catch people about to duck into the loo to feed, or just where lots of people can see.

My local mlu has one of these stickers on the window of the MW office, I didn't assume you we're meant to go in there to bf, I assumed it was there because you could see it easily

[LadyFlumpalot]

There is a sticker on tje back of the loo door suggesting that women who have suffered DV undergo counselling. I don't think they expect you to have counselling in the loo. It's just somewhere where women will see it. Usually whilst indisposed for a minute or two.
I suspect it's the same here. It's an advertisement, not an invitation to use the actual cubicle.

[ll31]

Dealing with..

[ll31]

So should the hospital maybe employ someone to draw up a plan to decide where stickers sGould be out to ensure they won't upset anyone or aalternatively put them where as many people as possible will see them??
Think yoh are ridiculously over thinking this, looking for a fight where there's no reason.

Though I'm sure it's a good use of hospital time dwaking with your concerns.

[CatAmongThePigeons]

Our hospital has a notice on the doors to the maternity unit and also on the toilet doors. They also have information on the inside of the door about domestic violence. I always thought it was a good way to get the message across to the right audience.

Also, it is naive to think that all pregnant/ breastfeeding women know it is illegal to stop women from feeding their child. Awareness and support is a good thing, I think this is fighting the wrong thing.

[MrsLouisTheroux]

I've just clicked on your photo OP and the toilet is obviously a disabled toilet with baby changing facilities. IMO, the sticker is there to inform women that this lockable, private room is a place where you can stay in as long as you like should you so wish to BF in private.
In other words, you shouldn't worry about taking your time in there.

[becsparkel]

The stickers are great, no problem with the stickers at all (although it's a shame we still need them) - it's the fact that it's on a loo door. It could have been put elsewhere... consulting room doors or reception?

Even though it's legal to bf anywhere, breastfeeding in public can still be a daunting prospect and we hear stories all the time about women being told to leave places or feed in toilets; this sticker doesn't help IMO.

My friend did tell the AN dept, who told her to find someone else, who wasn't around.

[Sidge]

PostmanPat well yeah they should have known this already but if they didn't then they know now! That's the whole point of informational stickers and posters...

And not all pregnant women will know that they will be able to feed anywhere they like - there's still a huge misconception that permission needs to be sought. Whether you think this sticker perpetuates that depends on your interpretation of the information I guess.

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

I think you're overreacting. Midst hospitals have stickers and posters promoting breastfeeding everywhere. Plus they know full well that you have the right to bf wherever the fuck you want. Why do they need a sticker at all? I'm pretty sure it's not suggesting you have to bf while you're taking a dump. So I think YAB a bit U if I'm honest. They don't need to put a sticker on the door of every place where you can bf BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE.

[NellysKnickers]

This just made me laugh. I used to just breastfeed wherever, whenever.

[TheToysAreALIVEITellThee]

dont see the problem with this whatsoever, its a sign somewhere where lots of the people who it is aimed at will see.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

But the stickers are available obviously from some online or nhs supplier.

Go after those who make the stickers rather than those who display then purely with the aim to make people feel welcome.

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

No need for a sign. I would just have told them it was illegal to stop someone bfing in a public place.

Or something less polite. Never actually happened to me and I've bfed anywhere and everywhere.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

And who's to say the intent was to not be seen by women breast feeding but to alert other people that it is something the hospital supports and that complaints by others are not going to be permitted.

All of you have a story where someone in a cafe or shop complained. Would you not have liked to be able to point to a sign showing your rights thus shutting them up?