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AIBU?

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Original poster

Mother sues for £20k for being discouraged from bf while the wave machine was on

1000 replies

sizeofalentil · 02/05/2016 12:54

Daily Mirror link to the story here.

I'm totally for breastfeeding wherever and whenever, but I wouldn't want to eat my sandwiches in a swimming pool - they are so germy, like a human soup, so not sure a swimming pool with a wave machine on would be the best place to bf. Plus, obviously in this case there was the waves.

I realise that getting out of the water, especially if she had other kids, with a hungry baby would be a massive faff, but wouldn't the wave machine splash the baby and make it choke?

Serious question: AIBU to think this? Is bf in a swimming pool a done thing? Genuinely curious.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Roussette · 02/05/2016 18:49

It's not inaccurate to say she is sueing the Leisure Centre for £20K. They have confirmed that is so.

bloodyteenagers · 02/05/2016 18:50

I think if someone said hello to her she would take offence to it.
Just been reading about the hospital thing. The hospital that for over 15 years has excellent facilities in place and welcomes bfing.
They welcome it so much that they even have some rooms with comfier chairs for bfing. Which is what they offered her. She might not have wanted the room, but staff weren't mind readers.

I find it odd that she had several incidents over a short period of time.

She doing a disservice to many people. People who would like to be offered a quiet room as their baby prefers quiet and lower lighting. People who would have been happy to have a chair offered won't get one in general. Imagine how many people in public transport whom will waver in offering a seat because of this. How many busy
Waiting rooms where staff will remain quiet.

Sparklingbrook · 02/05/2016 18:51

I assume whatever happened was all captured on CCTV.

Maryz · 02/05/2016 18:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LateToThis · 02/05/2016 18:58

I know her. This does not surprise me.

JuxtapositionRecords · 02/05/2016 18:59

bloodyteenagers I was going to say exactly that - I would bet £20k that the hospital offered her a feeding room. There are rooms at my hospital with comfy chairs, bf pillows etc. Much better than a waiting room chair. And don't forget she was there for an appointment with her son, so assuming she was in a paediatric ward - even less likely they would try and shun a bf woman into a room because they didn't like it.

I don't understand why anyone who is pro breastfeeding would support this woman, and why people still twist everything to make the bf woman look like she had been shamed. There is a massive difference between asking someone to leave the pool and asking someone would they like to leave the pool. God he was just offering a chair, what a load of drama!

donotreadtheDailyHeil · 02/05/2016 19:04

I was going to ask why would you even go into a pool with a baby/non-swimmer if the wave machine is on but note above that you just walk into the pool so can stay on the edge. Still seems a bit weird though.

MangoMoon · 02/05/2016 19:06

"LactavistMamaTo2.....
I'm a vegan, breastfeeding, babywearing, cloth bum, home ed mum to two"

Oh gosh. She'd hate me:
I'm a meat eating, bottle feeding, buggy using, disposable nappy using, nursery using mum to two. Grin

Pepperpot99 · 02/05/2016 19:07

She sounds like a dreadful narcissist. This isn't about bfing, it's about attention. Me,me,me. How pathetic.

Flashbangandgone · 02/05/2016 19:07

Even if she was being reasonable (which I absolutely think she wasn't), for such a mild inconvenience and 'controvention of her rights' the most she should have expected was a goodwill voucher of £50.. At most! To sue for £20k is beyond ridiculous! It's the most grabby thing I've heard in a long time. Would be furious if they settled... I hope she gets lumbered with substantial costs and is forced to stop behaving like a spoilt 5 year old.

Sparklingbrook · 02/05/2016 19:12

Why has this taken a year to come out?

Cornettoninja · 02/05/2016 19:15

She's just a knob isn't she? She certainly doesn't speak for me (currently BF). I've just about worked up the courage to get dd fed wherever we might be, but damn straight I'd be grateful for anyone kind enough to be supportive and offer something they think might help. In this case a chair is a lovely offer, and her last complaint about the hospital waiting room and being offered a private space was also lovely (my dd is to nosey to feed properly out and about, the chance to get a decent amount in her would be great).

She's just being a dick. No one at all is saying she can't feed her child in the vicinity, they're just bring bloody nice.

Some of the comments on various websites are making me Hmm though. Surely in a swimming pool the baby is already ingesting whatever germs/chemicals are swimming about, it's probably already spat up some sick and there's a fair chance of mums leaking milk while they're in the pool. All kind of irrelevant imho.

People can feed where they like, but she's a complete tool for taking kind gestures that other women might appreciate and trying to make it taboo.

bloodyteenagers · 02/05/2016 19:23

She isn't just making it harder for women, she is making it harder for everyone.
A male might look like he needs a seat, people are going to say nothing in case they get sued. But the company might get sued as he falls and bangs his head..

Hopefully the judge will tell her nicely of course to fuck off and listen to what people are saying. There is nothing between the lines. No alterior motive. It's not companies that has a problem it's you. Suppose you are going to turn this into something it's not, when not only do I kick this bollock out of my court but I also say you have to pay all costs.

CountessOfStrathearn · 02/05/2016 19:29

I was going to do a rainbow cake with my meat eating, breast fed, baby worn, pants wearing, school educated DC for DH's birthday this week, but I think I might go for the breasts cake instead. The PIL will love it!

Dizzydodo · 02/05/2016 19:32

The woman in the artical sounds awful, she wasn't even asked to stop, just offered a chair and now she is suing?!

CountessOfStrathearn · 02/05/2016 19:33

Pressed post too soon as ever...

As it is, I have breastfed 3 children to over a year and have breastfed in a whole multitude of places, including during a smear test, in church, on steam trains, in various restaurants, and the only person who has ever said anything to me was my mother who suggested that I stick a muslin over my baby's head. To be honest, I've always been waiting for someone to tell me off and have always been sorely disappointed!

MangoMoon · 02/05/2016 19:37

Countess, I'm sorry but I did lol at "including during a smear test" Grin

You're hardcore!!

birdsdestiny · 02/05/2016 19:40

I wonder how that member of staff is feeling right now, stressed, anxious, worried about his job. Let's just stretch credibility for a moment and say it's safe to breastfeed in the waves, and she's right. Then what she should have done is have a quiet word with the staff or management. But she didn't did she, she sued. So she can post as much as she likes about breastfeeding, home ed etc etc, but the fact is she is unkind and that's crap example for her kids.

Buttercupsandaisies · 02/05/2016 19:45

I see why she's pushing it - because the law allows her to. Tbh id like to see a change in the law than bans bf in a pool - it's disgusting. It's still bodily fluids purposely put there. Sorry but it's proper chavvy behaviour imo by mums with no class whatsoever. Most mums I know take a towel to the poolside for babies anyway (to warm them up when out of the pool straight away), so feeding a child at the side of the pool won't keep them any colder than in a pool if wrapped up. It makes me furious tbh. Simply no need.

Why anyone would want a child to eat in such a germ ridden environment is beyond me

Rosae · 02/05/2016 19:47

They have confirmed she is sueing, not the amount. And the length of time that it has taken suggests it was not just for what happened at the time but how they continued to handle it after the event.

Roussette · 02/05/2016 19:48

Rosae that's obviously you then Abbie as you seem to know so much!

bloodyteenagers · 02/05/2016 19:49

Because the pool is clean. The strong smell of chlorine tells me it's clean. It's no cesspool of bodily fluids.

If only they knew. The stronger the stench, you would probably be better eating in the toilet. Oh wait. We don't. Campaigns happened to get bfing out of toilets.

JuxtapositionRecords · 02/05/2016 19:51

rosae you are either the woman in question or someone close to her. Why not just come out and say it and give her side of the story instead of drip feeding little bits to try and defend her?

ScreenshottingIsNotJournalism · 02/05/2016 19:52

It's still bodily fluids purposely put there

The milk is going into the baby.. as opposed to if you don't feed them in the pool and leak

bloodyteenagers · 02/05/2016 19:52

Oh you mean afterwards ensuring their staff are aware of bfing policies including posters etc in the area.

Maybe it's taken so long because they wouldn't be bullied and googled her to see she is a seasoned complainer. They going to court to ask why the fuck wasn't the offer a chair reasonable and required the manager being shouted at and her flouncing.

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