Mothercare sticking two fingers up to breastfeeding mums!

[fiveisanawfullybignumber]

They are shutting the feeding and changing facilities in my local Mothercare shop, so they can bring in 'new and exciting changes including ELC.'
Basically closing down the ELC shop across the precinct and shoving stock into the area that was so vital for mums & babies.
My DD nearly 5m has severe gastric reflux and many a feed involved her screaming, arching back and latching on and off.
I loved the fact that I could go and BF in a quiet room away from prying eyes in the food court etc. I can honestly say I've never been alone in there either, always another BF mum to chat to so well used. New mums love the privacy whilst getting to grips with BF too.
Mothercare used to be concerned about these things, obviously now it's all about profit per sq foot!
I have tried a few emails to head office, but have had standard non comital replies, basically been fobbed off. I'm not even asking that they keep the toilets and change rooms, just have a quiet area for BF mums like myself, who incedentaly used to spen a fair bit every time I went in.
Spoke to the manager today, room finally shut now, she said they would NOT be providing an area, and all feeding facilities will be phased out of all high st stores, head office aren't bothered by us lowly mums complaining. I politely told her that in principle I would never purchase another item from mothercare as been as their website says the exact opposite of what they are actually doing.
'We are very conscious of the needs of mothers when shopping with babies and toddlers. We provide special rooms in as many stores as possible for mothers to feed their babies in comfort and privacy. Our staff will always offer somewhere for you to breastfeed or bottle feed, whether in the Mummy's Room, an empty fitting room, or elsewhere within a Mothercare store.'
help.mothercare.com/help/stores/breastfeeding

Mothercare's a bloody hole anyway. No loss if you boycott!

Not really specifically to do with breastfeeding mothers though is it? They are removing the facility for all mothers and that is something they should address.

(Although IMO Mothercare are crap so this is no more than I would expect)

Breastfeeding mothers are being worst affected though. You can comfortably bottle feed in the middle of a food court without worrying who you may flash to. New mums and mums with BF babes with feeding problems like mine are being affected. It just riles me that they are still saying they're all BF friendly on their website, whilst actually not giving a flying fig.

When I was bfing my two there was a feeding room in Boots, do they still offer this? Boots was always much nicer than Mothercare.

There is in the bigger boots on the other side of town, 10 mins walk. There is a combined feed/change room in Debenhams, but it's getting busy in there now!
I think it's just that they made their name out of being baby/child friendly and they are still playing on it, but doing something completely the opposite.

I have used the feeding facilities in mothercare when I was a shy BFer with DD1. I liked to have a place to feed in private. this is a shame.

Go to John Lewis instead, I fucking hate Mothercrap.

(I do know that there aren't that many JL's)

Mothercare loos and feed facilities are always manky. It is true they do not follow their principles (car seat debarcle anyone? ) but I'm afraid you are expecting too much for them to care. They simply don't.

Ikea (if you can stand it) usually have very nice feeding areas and their cots/highchairs/beds/childrens toys are cheaper too.

I was going to recommend john lewis as well but I'm aware that I often start to sound like I'm in their pay!

Lovely facilities for everyone

It's not always nice feeding in public when ff. Some babies hate milk, boob and bottle and people look at you astonished when you are trying to feed a screaming, wriggling baby with a bottle.
Also, in Mothercare on the web site EVERY single good offer is always out of stock online. Crap.

I'll happily boycott too! I loathe them anyway, poor customer service, stupid rules about returns etc. I bought a breast pump from there and they refused to refund even thought it stopped working. I pointed out I had a baby who couldn't latch and was reliant on expressing, so the last thing I'd do is make myself without a pump for fun! The manager kept showing me it worked, because she could feel suction, even though it didn't express. Pointed out I can suck with a bloody hoover too but that isn't going to get milk out. She then tried to say I had no milk! I felt like spraying her face with it.

As a bottle feeder with a baby with severe reflux I too need a space to feed, otherwise I get stared at just the same while he screams like I'm forcing a bottle in him.

Sorry strawberry, didn't mean to exclude you, I know how hard it is either way. Looks like you're trying to murder the poor little mites.
Agree their CS in general is crap, but bought regularly as I was using their facilites. No longer!
We're particularly annoying in Cambridge, 2 distinctly different sides of town with a 10m walk in the middle. JL are lovely, but other side of town, at mothercare end there is a conbo room at Debenhams (feed next to the stinky nappy bin) or a feeding cubicle in main precinct toilets, (yum, tiny and currently out of order!)
I'd have slapped the manager with a soggy breast pad!

I wasn't feeling offended/ excluded, just pointing out that the facilities are needed for all mums, hence their importance.

I reckon it's their loss. They will lose a lot of custom if they shut their facilities as parents are more like to shop somewhere else with facilities.

I liked John Lewis too. Believe it or not our local Asda has excellent baby facilities, they even provide free nappies.

It is really shocking that they are doing this. They really don't care about their customers do they.

Meh, if you piss off your main customer base then there will be consequences, totally their call. Just walk away and shop at stores that welcome you.

strawberry they are legally obliged to replace repair or refund if it doesn't work. Don't be fooled by warranties/store policies, they often cover a shorter period than you are legally entitled to and make it out like they are doing you a favour when they are tricking you out of your rights. Iirc (from radio four somewhere, prob you and yours) an item should work for a "resonable" amount of time so obv this period is disputable but i bet you it's longer than the "guarantee"

That's a shame. Personally I don't like MC's facilities for feeding, the bench seats are uncomfy and not good for positioning babies and they are really small and bland and boring - I have never had another mum to chat to in there . I would rather have a couple of comfy chairs with arms in a quiet space near the changing room or something.

However if people are using them and value them, then MC are shooting themselves in the foot.

Have you tried your local Breast Friends to see if there is a Breastfeeding Welcome scheme in your area? You might unearth a good new feeding haunt you never knew about.

Moonface, reasonable time?? FOUR DAYS! They wouldn't accept it didn't work as it still sucked, however the motor was faulty and the suction suddenly became too weak and the motor rattled. They finally agreed to replace, which was useless as I'd had to get one from a large 24 hour place near me and I couldn't wait for them to open and also to travel the distance to them without a car with a new baby (you can't exactly tell your milk supply and baby to wait for them to open and you to travel). Even vouchers would have been fine. Normally I'd go spare but standing at their customer service desk a week post partum (third degree tear too, had to bloody go and stand as on my card not dh's) with a screaming newborn while the manager S-L-O-W-L-Y did anything I was rather vunerable for taking the piss out of, and they did.

I really loathe mc. I was also surprised how much cheaper next baby wear is. PRam suits were £18 in Next and over £30 in mc. I see next as much better quality too.

strawberry that is shocking. I'm never going back on the strength of that story alone! ime most mc customers are pre baby and soon see the error of their ways.

Cambridge's Mothercare is especially rubbish. JL has a good feeding area and I only discovered a few weeks ago (DD1 is now 2!) how nice the feeding/changing room in Boot in town is.

Most parts of the Grafton are horrid anyway so I'll happily avoid Mothercare too.

PS, another vote for Next's clothes over Mothercare stuff.

You're right, I think most mothercare's customers are pre-baby. You learn soon after having it!

Definitely pre baby. I only shopped in there as I was using the room so it was on my way in/out. Easy just to reach onto shelves and get what I needed. The feeding room had 2 nice nursing chairs in.
Definitely won't ever use them again!

Mothercare is for pregnant women and grandmas. I've seen so many complaints about them recently it's a wonder they're still in business.