Breastfeeding ban: Georgia mother is told she can’t nurse her baby at waterpark, sparking debate

A Georgia mother mentioned she was lately told she couldn’t breastfeed her baby at a waterpark.

Tiffany Francis described the incident in a public Facebook submit, sparking debate about potential discrimination towards nursing moms who breastfeed their infants in public.

“My son is 11 months old and when it was getting to be his nap time, like I do every visit, I got in the Lazy River to nurse him to sleep,” she wrote. “He likes motion to sleep, he sleeps well in the car or swing, so he will also sleep in the Lazy River.”

But the girl shared {that a} lifeguard at Rigby’s Water World in Warner Robins, Georgia, told her she couldn’t breastfeed within the water.

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“I kind of laughed because I thought he was just making a joke in very poor taste,” Francis wrote. “Then he got on the radio and had a lady come and tell me I wasn’t allowed.”

She added, “I asked her if it was posted somewhere and she told me that it was posted in the rules out front, so I got out of the Lazy River and I went to read the rules.”

There was no rule stating that breastfeeding wasn’t allowed, Francis mentioned. 

When Francis requested to talk with a supervisor, he told her one of many guidelines said, “No food or drinks in the water.”

“I asked, ‘So my boobs aren’t allowed in the water?’” Francis mentioned.

“Imagine all the bodily fluids being excreted into the water, but they’re worried about breastmilk when the baby was latched, my breast was out of the water, and the milk was only going into [my] baby’s mouth,” she wrote. 

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“But really, it wasn’t even about him eating in the water — it was about it making other guests uncomfortable,” she additionally wrote. 

Francis tried unsuccessfully to get a refund — then finally left the park, she mentioned.

Fox News Digital reached out to Rigby’s Water World for remark, however as of publication time didn’t hear again from the ability. 

Tiffany Francis, proven with her baby, described the incident in a public Facebook submit, sparking debate about potential discrimination towards moms who breastfeed in public. (Tiffany Francis)

“I left crying because I was told I couldn’t feed my child,” she mentioned.

“By the way, it is against the law to tell a mother they can’t breastfeed their child.”

Georgia code 31-1-9 states that “the breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture, which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be.”

Francis later shared with Fox News Digital that after her Facebook submit circulated, she finally acquired an apology from Steve Rigby, proprietor of Rigby’s Water World, in addition to one from the overall supervisor, for what occurred — however she felt the apologies have been “insincere” and solely a results of the “backlash they received on social media.”

A younger mother is proven breastfeeding her baby. Breastfeeding provides a bevy of advantages for each mother and baby.  (iStock)

The apology, she mentioned, famous “that while it’s not the best practice, feeding is now allowed anywhere.”

However, Francis mentioned that in her view, “both were backhanded, slap-in-the-face apologies.”

“Emotional bonding is another reason many mothers choose to breastfeed.”

She added, “Steve Rigby said, ‘I’m sorry,’ but then excused the behavior of his employee instead of just actually apologizing.”

Health advantages of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding provides a bevy of advantages for each mother and baby, consultants agree.

For infants, nursing reduces the danger of SIDS and in addition protects towards sure sicknesses and illnesses, corresponding to abdomen viruses, colds, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, ear infections and meningitis, in response to Olivia DeLong, senior well being editor at BabyCenter in Atlanta, Georgia.

“If you feel the need to say something to a breastfeeding mother, please say something positive,” Francis mentioned after her expertise. (iStock)

For moms, breastfeeding can even lower the chance of creating sicknesses corresponding to sort 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and weight problems, she added.

“Some women find they feel relaxed while breastfeeding, since nursing triggers the release of oxytocin — the ‘love hormone,’” DeLong told Fox News Digital. 

“Emotional bonding is another reason many mothers choose to breastfeed.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends unique breastfeeding for the primary six months, then continued breastfeeding after introducing stable meals. It additionally helps the breastfeeding of a kid for as much as two years.

‘Women continue to face challenges’ 

“Unfortunately, discrimination against breastfeeding parents is a pervasive issue,” Christie Rosenthal, a lactation advisor with The Lactation Network in Chicago, Illinois, told Fox News Digital.

“I left crying because I was told I couldn’t feed my child.”

“Women continue to face challenges at work and in society,” she mentioned. 

“Breastfeeding in public continues to be a challenge for many people — even though it’s protected by law — and friends, family and sometimes partners may express criticism of the breastfeeding parent’s choice to breastfeed.”

The lady shared that whereas she was within the Lazy River nursing her son, a lifeguard told her she could not breastfeed within the water. (iStock)

“It’s important to remember that moms are allowed to breastfeed in public,” Rosenthal mentioned. 

“So, others do not have a right to ask a mother to leave a public space while breastfeeding.”

DeLong agreed that many mothers face public shaming for breastfeeding.

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“In new research from BabyCenter, moms most commonly cited breastfeeding in public as the reason they were shamed by others,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“This especially affects younger moms, as one in three Gen Z moms who say they’ve been shamed in public say it was from someone complaining about their child nursing.”

‘The right to feed your baby’

For moms who expertise a state of affairs such because the one Francis described, Rosenthal emphasised that they shouldn’t really feel the necessity to reply to anybody who criticizes them for public breastfeeding.

“If you feel comfortable, you can share that you have the right to feed your baby in public,” she mentioned. 

“If you’re at a place of business, ask to speak to the manager and file a complaint with corporate headquarters.”

Rosenthal added, “If you feel in danger, move away from the person criticizing you and look for people who can support you.”

‘Say something positive’

“It’s just really sad that in this day and age, women are still scared to breastfeed in public due to what others may say to them or the looks they may receive,” Francis told Fox News Digital.

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“I urge other moms to learn the law to defend themselves if faced with any issues regarding breastfeeding their children,” she added. 

“Public breastfeeding is protected in all 50 states.”

“Moms are allowed to breastfeed in public. Others do not have a right to ask a mother to leave a public space while breastfeeding.”

Not everybody supported Francis’ stance. 

One lady responded on Facebook, “I breastfed both of my children but would have NEVER done so at a recreational park, in the water that is full of chemicals (and probably urine, etc.). How safe is that for your child?”

Another lady wrote, “I personally wouldn’t want to swim in a body of water that I’m witnessing bodily fluid probably go into right in front of me.”

In new analysis from BabyCenter, mothers mostly cited breastfeeding in public as the explanation they have been shamed by others. (iStock)

Most responses voiced assist, nevertheless. 

“Not everyone has been kind on this subject, but I truly appreciate all the support I’ve received from other mothers, as well as dads and even those without children,” Francis told Fox News Digital.

“With it being such a sensitive topic, if you feel the need to say something to a breastfeeding mother, please say something positive,” she mentioned. 

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“Encourage her, tell her she’s doing great.”

Added Francis, “Because I guarantee that your comment, whether positive or negative, will impact her for a lifetime.”