A Sydney mother has spoken out after being told to stop breastfeeding her baby in a public pool, describing the experience as “embarrassing” and “shocking.”
Yolanda Shipley uses breastfeeding to soothe her seven-month-old daughter – a natural instinct that she says led to her being publicly shamed.
“Somebody came over and told me that I was not allowed to breastfeed her in the water. Being, you know, approached and told that I wasn’t allowed to be doing that, it’s very embarrassing,” Shipley said.
Shipley had all five of her children swimming at Blacktown Leisure Centre in Sydney’s west on Saturday. Leaving the pool to feed would have meant leaving her other children unattended. She said she was fully clothed at the time.
“A part of me wanted to push the matter further there and then, but it was my daughter’s sixth birthday and the last thing I wanted to do was upset my daughter,” she said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Blacktown City Council apologised for any hurt or offence caused to Shipley, but defended the centre’s policy banning breastfeeding in the pool on safety and hygiene grounds.
“Breastfeeding while in a pool can create risks, as a baby could slip from a parent’s arms, swallow pool water or vomit milk into the water,” the council stated.
Shipley now hopes her experience will help other women understand their rights.
“As long as you’re not posing any risk to safety, to yourself or to anyone else, you can absolutely refuse that request,” human rights and discrimination lawyer Prabha Nandagopal said.
“You can feed your baby wherever, whenever you want,” Shipley added.
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