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A Queensland café owner asks a male customer to leave her business after he upset a breastfeeding mum.


 

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Jessica-Anne Allen asked a customer to leave her Cheese and Biscuits café that she runs with her husband Stephen in Rockhampton, after “a middle aged gentleman” told a mum breastfeeding her baby to “cover up”.

“We told him that we are a breastfeeding friendly cafe, that we have mothers’ groups and ladies who come and breastfeed all the time and we would never ask a mother to cover up when she is feeding her child,” she said.

“We also told him there were plenty of seats inside, away from the woman and her friends, if he wanted and he seemed fine, and as far as I was concerned that was the end of it.”

“When I put his coffee down, he mentioned that he said something to her and that the next time I should probably ask her to cover up,” Ms Allen said.

“So I informed him I would rather ask him to leave, and I took his coffee and put it in a take away container and asked him to leave.”

“I was afraid that she would feel like she had to cover up from now on.”

“And quite frankly, that is not good enough. It should never have been an issue in the first place because it is a form of adult bullying and is actually against the law to approach a breastfeeding mother and ask her to stop or cover up.

“I have a sister who has a three month old and I would hate to think that something like that was said to her.”

“We don’t have children, so we were really shocked by how common it was that people were being asked to cover up while breast feeding,” she said.

“And I just think it is completely and utterly wrong, because it is a bonding moment for mother and child and sight is a big part of that and to cover the child up so they can’t see mum, would take away from that.

“We didn’t do anything great; we just did what was morally right.”

Good on you for standing up for mums doing what is natural! I really can’t believe we are still having the same argument. Seriously people?

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  • Good for them for standing up for the mums. I suppose he would want mothers to stay indoors until the kids are adults. Its hard enough being a new mum without some bigoted man telling them what to do.

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  • Wonderful to see breastfeeding women being stood up for, rather than put down. Way to go to the lady who put the rude man in his place.

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  • I agree with the cafe owners and other comments on here. I am very pro breastfeeding. Not only is a Mum feeding her baby, she has a quiet contented baby, not screaming and distressed – distressing the Mum at the same time. The guy could have moved and not made a “scene”.
    Having said that, I don’t think it is necessary to have both breasts hanging out and the Mum be exposed right down to the waist (or lower -I believe me I felt embarrassed) as I have seen a few do recently. My children aren’t old enough to understand. One whispered in my ear, luckily not out loud.

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  • This reminds me of a post on Facebook that so poiniently puts it this way… we used boobs to sell everything from cars to food to holiday destinations and no one bats an eyelid but a woman breast feeds in public and everyone loses their minds. ..
    I am pro breast feeding all the way, it is such a natural thing. Shame on those who make women feel bad for doing something so natural.

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  • Most women try not to flash too much when they’re feeding… And it’s polite not to gawp anyway.

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  • It’s amazing that this kind of stuff still happens

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  • She took the right decision, no question about that. Incredible what that man dared to say!!

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  • yes it is a form of bullying. the man could have moved and there wouldn’t have been an issue

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  • Nice work on the establishment. It is against the law and he should have been asked to leave. I am not a mother who breast feeds in public but am 100% on board with a woman’s right to do so.

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  • well done for standing firm and supporting the lady :) Shame on the “middle aged man” if you dont like it then go else where!

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  • Refreshing to read this kind of story. About time! Well done to this cafe owner.

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  • Lke bd

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  • Good on her for standing up to the ignorant man. My father in law recently opened up a cafe and majority of his customers are mothers groups who breastfeed and we have never had any issues with them feeling uncomfortable or other customers being offended. It should be a non issue and something that should be embraced. These ladies are feeding their child not taking their boob out for fun.

    Reply

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