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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be appalled at this 'Breastfeeding Welcome' sticker?

74 replies

becsparkel · 19/09/2013 22:17

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

OP posts:

BrokenSunglasses · 20/09/2013 08:39

'Appalled' is a ridiculous over reaction to a sticker. Things are advertised on toilet doors all the time. There were posters all over the place about donating to Syria last time I used a public toilet, it doesnt mean that whoever put the posters there might think that the ads were only worth of being in the toilet. It's a place where a lot of people will see, that's all.

I'd have thought it mean bfing was welcome in the building, not just in the toilet anyway. I'm very pro breastfeeding but I really think you must have put some serious effort into being offended by this.

It's a non issue.

Original poster

becsparkel · 20/09/2013 08:41

ok have fiddled with profile, am I clickable now?

I take on board the majority think I'm over reacting, fair enough. I had a really difficult time starting out breastfeeding and my opinion is, that a sticker on a loo door in an antenatal dept is subversive and and sending out the wrong message. There are other places to put these stickers (which are great stickers btw)... like on consulting room doors??

Personally, I would question what kind of message this is sending out to women who are nervous or unsure about breastfeeding... and if I had seen the sticker when I was pregnant, I would have interpreted it as... feed your baby in this toilet.

Yes, she could have peeled it off herself but the hospital needs to remove it. It isn't just about the sticker, it's about the mentality behind it iyswim.

OP posts:

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 20/09/2013 08:47

OP I agree with you, it could easily be interpreted as an invitation/expectation to bf in the loo. The comparisons used up thread don't work as they don't relate to things women have wrongly been asked to do in the loo.

MiaowTheCat · 20/09/2013 08:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 20/09/2013 08:49

Perhaps people kept asking and they thought that they would just put a sign/sticker up. Honestly I really doubt it was to cause offence or imply anything. I really think you are over thinking it.

I've been to places with the nct certificate for breast feeding things up before.

edam · 20/09/2013 08:50

bec, agree it sends out an unfortunate message that b/f is welcome in the loo only.

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 20/09/2013 08:50

Why the hell does anywhere need a 'breastfeeding welcome' sticker?

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 20/09/2013 08:51

I think some people are paranoid tbh. Really, there's no need to fight anybody over this unless they actually stop you from breast feeding on the premesis.

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 20/09/2013 08:52

Accusations of overthinking can easily be returned with accusations of under thinking. I know which one I'd rather be guilty of.

VinegarDrinker · 20/09/2013 08:52

Have you actually mentioned it to the staff in charge of AN clinic?

We have these stickers locally. The wording says "Breastfeeding welcome here, but mothers have the right to breastfeed anywhere". I think they are really useful actually.

Finola1step · 20/09/2013 08:54

What a load of nonsense. I had my son at Kings back in 2008 and they supported my choice to then have a home birth with my daughter in 2010. I found that all staff were very supportive of breast feeding. They run a very good breast feeding workshop for women in the last few weeks of pregnancy and midwives support you after the birth (despite them being vv busy). The sticker you mention is referring to breast feeding being welcome and supported throughout the whole hospital.

Kings also treated my dad twice in intensive care before he passed away. As well as various admittances for him for other issues. So I know many departments in this hospital.

Please mnetters, do not tweet negative messages to this hospital which does a fantastic job in very difficult circumstances.

Finola1step · 20/09/2013 08:55

Oops. Silly iPhone seems to he posting twice at the mo

Debs75 · 20/09/2013 08:57

When I read your post I thought it was going to be about this breastfeeding killed my baby

This is more shocking and appalling tbh and to put way more mums off breastfeeding then a sign in a toilet

MajorMassSpecsMistriss · 20/09/2013 09:10

I breast feed my son until he was a year old but I was never comfortable to do it infront of people. I only did it in front of very close family when it was totally unavoidable. I would have been very greatful of a sign indicating I could use that toilet (which from your photo shows it to be disabled toilet also, some where I wouldn't use normally)I would not assume that was the only permissible place to feed just some where to use should I so wish.

WiddleAndPuke · 20/09/2013 09:14

I expect its a shorter way of saying "If you're coming in here to breast feed there's no need - you're welcome to feed anywhere". Makes sense to put it there.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 20/09/2013 09:18

Tbh they can't win though. Imagine if they put a sticker on saying "bottle warming facilities available in cafe" they would be then accused of promoting formula yet having a sticker supporting breast feeding is seen as infringement of the right to breast feed anywhere.

Sidge · 20/09/2013 09:27

Pregnant women pee A LOT.

So any pregnant woman using the loo will now know they can breastfeed in Kings.

I don't see the problem?

(And many places have restrictions on what staff are allowed to fix to walls so have to use doors and windows to stick posters etc up.)

FetchezLaVache · 20/09/2013 09:46

I think a lot of places had these stickers before the Equality Act came in, to let mothers know they were welcome to breastfeed there- I've seen them in quite a few cafés round here. Now that women have protected rights to breastfeed in public, they're obsolete! I don't like them either. I always feel there's an implication that they could stop you if they wanted to, which of course they can't. But I can't quite bring myself to be appalled by them.

lachrymavitis · 20/09/2013 09:54

Ignore the sticker and breastfeed where you feel comfortable.

Kings is a babyfriendly hospital, there is no way that anyone will tell you that you cannot breastfeed your baby in the hospital.

It is an excellent hospital by the way and I think you are getting upset without due cause.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/09/2013 09:56

They should change it to 'Breastfeeding welcome in all public areas'.

atrcts · 20/09/2013 10:03

I worked for 18 using my local hospital.

Staff always put notices that meetings, holidays, off duty request, Christmas work do's, new policies, etc, and nobody thought anything of it.

My guess is that the staff who put that notice up in the toilet, also are accustomed to seeing a toilet door full of notices in their own staff room.

I think you are reading far too much into it.

Sallyingforth · 20/09/2013 10:04

Agree that signs can be counter productive. BF should be normal anywhere.

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 20/09/2013 10:57

Sidge 'So any pregnant woman using the loo will now know they can breastfeed in Kings.'

They should have known this already because it's illegal to stop someone breastfeeding anywhere they are allowed to be. Having that sticker implies that King's are letting you bf there, which is not the case.

SkodaLabia · 20/09/2013 11:04

But aren't toilet doors frequently used to advertise all sorts of information? I'd interpret that as, 'you are welcome to breastfeed in this hospital'.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 20/09/2013 11:14

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?

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