Friend was told she was embarrassing

[mummytummy]

I met up with a friend today who was very upset because she went to the public swimming baths with her DH and 2 DDs, and was b/feeding her baby (12 weeks)(she had a tankini on and a big fleece jacket wrapped round her for privacy) and the manager stormed up to her and told her to stop feeding and go in the changing rooms because she was embarrassing all the other people in the pool. Her DH had noticed that there was a foreign man who kept staring and reckoned he probably complained. She was very upset that the manager made her feel dirty for b/feeding. She later rang the pool to speak to the manager about it, and again he said that she was in the wrong for feeding so publicly.

Absolutely appalling. This kind of attitude makes me so I'll definitely join in a mass email! This shouldn't happen anywhere but it's doubly ridiculous when you're talking about a swimming pool, ffs. Bits and pieces flopping around everywhere.

Great photo btw, emkana. If only...

Oh lockets - that is so bad! Silly woman!

i actively encourage children to have a good look when i'm bfeeding, esp if i think it's something they don't witness at home/in their circle of friends. two 9 yr old girls had eyes like saucers when they saw me bf dd2 in hospital (their aunty was bottle feeding from the beginning) and i called them over for a closer look, and to explain that's what boobies are for

mummytummy outrageous
lockets some people astound me

Sigh at that woman lockets.

Beautiful photo Emkana. Should be put up in public places everywhere!

Think the woman must have been feeling insecure/embarassed herself Lockets but think it is sad for your nephew because he now feels uncomfortable about it when there was no need for him to feel that way.

I fed DD at the side of a British swimming pool when on holiday. bought a takini especially for the purpose. And agree with the others re taking further action.

The breastfeeding sit-in protest at the pool is a perfect idea! And/or legal advice. [anger]

i would happily join in the en-mass e mail.

this makes me so sad, what is happening to the world?

I believe the pool is called

Thamesmere Leisure Centre
Thamesmere Drive
Thamesmead
London
Se28 8rf

0208 311 1118

and is owned by Greenwich council, it is the only pool in Thamesmead so I hope that is correct.

I walked past it this morning and was
I do think that some foreign men ( and I'm trying to say this without sounding at all racist) have the attitude that nudity in any form is wrong and maybe as women cover themselves in their culture that all women should be covered up. I have come across this attitude myself on several occasions.

why don't we persuade them to take part in publicising this, to make amends?

A mother's pride...
Mums have every reason to feel proud of breastfeeding this Breastfeeding Awareness Week (8-14th May 2005) Just one day of breastfeeding makes a difference to a baby's health by stabilising their blood sugars, protecting their gut and providing natural antibodies against disease. During Breastfeeding Awareness Week (8th - 14th May 2005), the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) is asking all mums to feel proud of breastfeeding, whether they breastfeed for one day or one year, as research shows that every feed makes a positive difference to both mother and baby.

NCT Chief Executive, Belinda Phipps said:
"Nine out of ten women who stop breastfeeding say they would like to have continued for longer. Because of lack of support and accurate information, many of these women are unable to continue for as long as they would like. They can then feel that they have 'failed'.

"It is not surprising that here in the UK we have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. If we stand any chance of increasing these rates, it's vital that we tackle this sense of failure and remind women that any amount of breastfeeding is a reason to feel proud. We want women and those that support them to celebrate every day that they breastfeed their baby.

"The benefits of breastfeeding for both mum and baby are not just measured in health terms but in the pride a mum feels when she looks at her healthy, growing breastfed baby. That's why this Breastfeeding Awareness Week, we want mothers to feel proud as they will both start to benefit from the very first breastfeed. By breastfeeding they are giving their baby something unique and special."

This year, the NCT is carrying out some consumer research to analyse people's understanding and awareness of the benefits that breastfeeding can bring, whether you breastfeed for a day, a week, or several months. Results of the survey are coming soon.

Please find attached our 'Reasons to be proud' factsheet for just some of the ways that breastfeeding makes a difference to both mothers and babies:

-Ends-

For more information, interviews with breastfeeding experts or case studies, please contact Lauren Goddard or Emily Shelton in the NCT press office on 0870 770 3238 or email [email protected]

Notes to Editors

• Breastfeeding counsellors are available to provide information and answer questions about baby feeding. For further information call the NCT Breastfeeding Line on 0870 444 8708 any day between 8am and 10pm

I was just going to ask if it was that one, sweetkitty. We could all email Greenwich Council if it is the right one.

(the reasons to be proud chart is a pdf and can't copy it, but it's full of stuff like: halves risk of chest infections to age 7; 5 times reduced risk of getting diarrhoea at 3mths and reduced risk for whole of first year; reduced risk of ovarian cancer; first few days - meconium cleared from bowel quicker; lowers risk of osteoporosis in long term; lowers risk of uti's by 5 times; 3 times less risk of becoming obese by age 6 and lower risk of heart disease as an adult; save £450 in first year on formula)

I'm so cross I feel like flying up & lending my support, although ds stopped bfing months ago. Maybe I could bring my dd's Babyborn?

But sweetkitty if the man had an attitude like that about nudity/covering up he should not have been in a swimming pool in the UK. Mummytummy's friend was probably actually exposing a lot less than others at the pool.

I know Bozza I think it's crazy too, it's the manager who makes me really cross telling a mother to stop feeding her child!!

Contact us page

I think this is the link - on the Greenwich Council site, it says that Thamesmere is run by GLL, and has a link to their site, but then the Thamesmere pool is not listed on it. However, it is listed in the main swimming page on Greenwich Council.

So shall we all protest?

That's one of my local pools - count me in for a protest march!!!

Am fuming.

Let us know if you want us to do anything, will happily join in with whatever action your friend is happy for us to take.

Can I ring Greenwich Council and speak to someone that deals with women's issues (please)? Don't want to do anything that would make anything worse for your friend but this idiot needs to be reported!

Would love to add my voice to the complaints. If anyone has written a stinging e-mail already, please post on here so I can copy it!

The press needs to be informed, and so does the council - but the facts have to be straight. It is no use phoning the council and saying 'someone whose real name I don't know has posted on an internet forum about their friend - no I don't know her name, either, and no, sorry, I don't know when this happened - who was told to stop bf'.....no one will take that very seriously!

Mummytummy's pal needs to do all this, really, or at least give permission for her name and details to be used.