When concerned lifeguards saw Abbie Stocker at the shallow end of the wave pool while nursing her eight-month-old baby, they came up to her and offered her a chair; she might find it more comfortable.
Instead of acquiescing, she took offense and claimed that her rights were infringed upon; asking nursing mothers to leave public areas is illegal in Nelson, Lancashire.
Now Abbie is suing the establishment Wavelengths, according to a report by The Sun.
“A lifeguard saw a mom feeding her baby in the pool and thought she’d be more comfortable in a chair,” the report said. “The wave machine was on and can get pretty strong. The staff member thought the baby may become upset and was only trying to help.”
She then began saying it was against the law to stop a mum breastfeeding in public.
Abbie’s claim of harassment was made more bizarre by the fact that all over the premises, pro-breastfeeding signs are proudly displayed.
A staff member even said, “It’s is ridiculous to think breastfeeding a child in a swimming pool is a sensible idea.
“If the baby had been sick, the pool would have had to be closed, drained and it would have been shut for days.
“It would have cost thousands and center bosses have to consider the health and safety of other users, too.”
On the other hand, it was understandable that she reacted in away.
According to the same report, Abbie had experienced discrimination for breastfeeding before at Burnley General Hospital when she was asked to leave a waiting area and breastfeed in another room.
“I felt humiliated, like a naughty schoolgirl who had been made to wait outside the headteacher’s office,” she had said at the time.
“It’s disappointing to hear that our offer of a room to allow Mrs. Stocker privacy and comfort was misinterpreted on this occasion and we are sorry for any upset,” said a spokesperson for East Lancs Hospitals NHS Trust.
Abbie replied to the statement saying, “Breastfeeding women are no different to a disabled person or a person of a different nationality in the way you can’t discriminate against them.”
She has sued Wavelengths for £20k (around $29,000).
READ: Café owner throws mother out for breastfeeding her child
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