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Infant feeding

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"Not every building is suitable for breastfeeding"

57 replies

BartletForAmerica · 13/07/2011 12:50

Apologies for linking to the Daily Mail but I was disappointed to see a councillor supporting the decision to ask a BF woman to leave the council offices where she was going to see the CAB. Unusually and happily, the DM comments are surprisingly supportive!

I've emailed the councillor concerned with this:

Dear Mr Akhtar,

I'd be grateful for clarification regarding your comments in today's Daily Mail. The full article can be found at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2014222/Breast-feeding-mother-told-leave-council-headquarters-offend-Muslim-visitors.html

The article quotes you as saying, "Not every building is suitable for breast-feeding and that is the case with the very busy, open-plan layout of Access Oldham."

As both a mother who continues to breastfeed her 11 month old son and as a doctor, it would be helpful if you could tell me what buildings are suitable for breastfeeding and what buildings are not.

In my experience, it is possible to breastfeed in any place where both I and my son are present. I was not aware of any other special requirements, but will found your answer educational.

You will, I am sure, be aware of the Equality Act 2010 that made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding mother to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport. Government guidance regarding this can be found at: www.equalities.gov.uk/pdf/401727_GEO-BCC_QuickGuide2_acc.pdf

OP posts:
BartletForAmerica · 15/07/2011 14:50

I've BF my son sitting on the grass outside after the fire alarm went off in a local cafe so not even a chair needed!

OP posts:
WiiDram · 15/07/2011 14:54

Yeah the article has been changed - I quoted him on a thread the other day saying the 'unsuitable' thing.

If they'd got it wrong there'd be an apology wouldn't there?

Tabitha8 · 15/07/2011 14:57

I like a bit of comfort, so it's a chair for me Smile.

BartletForAmerica · 15/07/2011 14:59

There was obviously an interim article on the Daily Mail website at one point as one blog has the article below. As much as I hate to admit it, tiktok, I think the Daily Mail got this story right.

vladtepesblog.com/?p=35559

Labour Councillor Shoab Akhtar said Oldham Council supports the right of mothers to breastfeed their children and actively supports it due to the long-term health benefits it provides.

But he added: ?Unfortunately there are no breast-feeding facilities available at Access Oldham based at the Civic Centre nor are there any public toilets or baby changing facilities.

?There is no requirement to provide such facilities at Access Oldham and we are committed to make the best use of the limited space that is available to provide facilities and meeting rooms where we can deal with issues that affect local residents quickly and effectively.

?Not every building is suitable for breast-feeding and that is the case with the very busy, open-plan layout of Access Oldham.?

However the council made an embarrassing U-turn later in the day with Cllr Akhtar issuing a second statement in which he made an ?unreserved apology? to Ms Mitchell.

He said: ?We fully support the right of mothers to breastfeed their children and actively encourage this due to the long term health benefits it provides

?Ms Mitchell?s disappointing experience has highlighted the need to make all our staff fully aware of our policy and our legal requirements. All staff will be trained in the coming days to ensure this never happens again.

?We are contacting Ms Mitchell to unreservedly apologise for the unnecessary difficulty she experienced.

?As previously stated, Access Oldham does not have dedicated breastfeeding facilities available, however staff are now aware that they should make every reasonable effort to assist a mother?s need to breastfeed ? whether she requests the use of a private room or otherwise.

?We always act on feedback from residents and are glad that this issue was brought to our attention.?

Ms Mitchell was visiting the Citizens? Advice Bureau at the council?s headquarters and was using computers there to find a babysitter.

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NearlyHeadlessnickelbabe · 15/07/2011 15:17

[[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ja_WLuyP9ocJ:m.dailymail.co.uk/mobile/news/article.html%3FarticleID%3D2014222+daily+mail+not+every+building+is+suitable+for+breastfeeding&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk
the cached version from google]]

the latest version

NearlyHeadlessnickelbabe · 15/07/2011 15:18

and wordpress's discussion on it
Grin

tiktok · 15/07/2011 16:40

OK - sounds as if he has certainly learned a lesson now, though :)

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