UK Mums have slammed a council after pool staff asked them to leave the water while they breastfed their babies.
Natalie Forester and Chloe Hattersley were feeding their children during baby swim sessions at Dimensions pool in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
They were then stopped by staff who asked them to leave the pool while breastfeeding and sit on the side, shares The Mirror.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council says breastfeeding is welcome at the poolside, but is ‘discouraged’ in its swimming pools ‘for the health and comfort of the child and to avoid the risk of the child regurgitating or vomiting in the pool’.
But Natalie and Chloe say this policy does not make sense and is at odds with the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act 2010 says it is discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.
Councillor Anthony Munday, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for greener city, development and leisure, defended the authority’s policy.
He said: “We have many areas at our poolside where breastfeeding can take place and actively promote and support this, although we do ask that breastfeeding doesn’t happen in the pool.
“We take on board the feedback from mums and will do more to work with them to understand their views and consider if this is something that needs to change for the future. We are sorry if this has caused any distress to any of our pool users.”
Can you see their point about health and comfort concerns?
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