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.

Wouldn't do any harm to ask them what their thoughts are on a Mum who needs to breastfeed actually doing so discreetly. Do they have a policy on this etc?

tiktok's right. in the meantime, it would be ok to approach the manager and ask what their breastfeeding policy is. presumably they support equal opportunities

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secur

Wow - what a huge response!! My friend apparently scurried off to the gallery and fed there because she was worried that she might burst into tears. I have told her what an overwhelming response people have given her. She has said she is writing to her MP, NCT, press and local Council, and the experience hasn't put her off feeding publicly. She said that she will be returning to the pool, and if her DD2 needs feeding, she will feed at poolside, if she gets told off again, she will bear in mind the positive (and angry) mums that have responded to this thread when she tells him to s*d off!!

Hurray!

Tell her if she wants us to complain, we will - we have the link!

I think she was worried about a mass campaign in case the manager ended up being sacked!! She says she isn't sticking up for him, but it wasn't his fault that the Council haven't trained their staff properly. She is going to point out to the Council that it might be an idea to inform all of their public facility managers the benefits on encouraging breast feeding.

I was absolutely disgusted to hear what happened to your friend. How dare he when she was doing what is natural??? She was BF a baby not having a bit of nookie!! I'm glad she is complaining as I feel BF should be the norm not the exception

Cheeky fucker. I agree re contacting MP & making sure this dickhead gets named and shamed....

sorry for the profanities

Mummytummy,

It's very kind of your friend to consider the manager and not to want to get him sacked by virtue of a mass campaign, but maybe as an alternative you could print out this thread for her...and when the manager next assails her with insults about her lowering the tone with breastfeeding, she could hand this printed off thread to him for a bit of light reading?

Sorry - I haven't been on for a couple of days. That's a good idea Handlemecarefully.

Grrr, just seen this and am . On Friday I was at our local pool with my DSs and there was a mum feeding her small baby sitting on the edge of the toddler pool. I thought it was lovely. The Mum was there with two friends who also had babies with them and I don't see why she should have missed out on the company of her friends to go off and hide to feed her baby.

mummytummy, glad to hear the experience hasn't put your friend off feeding in public.