In the latest story to make headlines this week, a young mum in England was left angry and frustrated after being shamed for breastfeeding her four-month-old son in a swimming pool.
Holly Mayes was at a public swimming pool in Northampton with her son, Vincent, when the little one needed a feed. Taking Vincent to the shallow end of the pool, Holly proceeded to breastfeed him while in the water.
Shortly after, the 21-year-old mum was approached by a female member of staff who told her that what she was doing was not only ‘unhygienic’ but it was also making the male lifeguards and people around her feel ‘uncomfortable’.
Holly proceeded to complain to a manager, who apologised and offered her free entry to the pool for a year, but the mum told local media that she was too embarrassed to go back into the pool. She also stressed that the water only came up to her waist, so there was no danger of Vincent swallowing any water.
“Swimming is our special time together – it’s where he becomes very relaxed and it’s a good, gentle way for women to get back into exercise after having a baby. Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world to do, but I was made to feel alienated for it,” she said.
