Mums are calling for a council to change its policy after they were told they could not breastfeed in a swimming pool.
Natalie Forester and Chloe Hattersley both say they were feeding their children during separate baby swim sessions at Dimensions, in Burslem, when they were stopped by staff and asked to leave the pool.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which runs Dimensions, says breastfeeding is welcome at the poolside, but says it 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.
Mother-of-three Natalie, of Sneyd Green, was at an Aquatots session with her 18-month-old son Josiah when she was stopped from feeding.
The 30-year-old said: “There were about five other parents in the pool with their children. The rest of the pool was closed to the public.
“Josiah was distressed so I thought I would give him some milk. I thought if we got out he would get cold, so I moved away and turned my back to the group. I was only going to feed him for a couple of minutes to comfort him.
“The teacher came over and said I couldn’t do it in the pool and I would have to sit on the side. I was made to feel like I was doing something wrong.
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“I didn’t want a confrontation so I moved, which I’m annoyed about now. I felt degraded.”
Natalie asked for a copy of Dimensions’ breast-feeding policy, and found the rule under the Food and Beverage section.
She said: “Stoke-on-Trent has one of the lowest breast-feeding rates in the country and they should be encouraging people, not doing this.”
First-time mum Chloe, of Middleport, had a similar experience while at an Aquatots session with her 17-month-old son Milo.
The 19-year-old said: “I have breastfed in the water before, but on this occasion a lifeguard shouted across the pool to me to stop doing it.
“Everyone was staring. Normally I would stand my ground, but I was really embarrassed so I just got out.
“I’ve made an official complaint. I don’t see how the council’s policy can override the law – it’s discrimination.”
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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.”