Breastfeeding in the Equality Bill

[Shifter]

For anyone who doesn't subscribe to the Baby Friendly Initiative mailing list, I thought people might be interested in this:

Support breastfeeding in the Equality Bill

Some mothers report having been harassed for breastfeeding in public. This can result in women choosing not to breastfeed or stopping sooner than they want to even though it can help to protect both mother and baby from a range of serious illnesses. UNICEF UK believes that all women have the right to breastfeed in public free from discrimination.

Ask your MP to protect breastfeeding in the UK

In April the UK Government introduced an Equality Bill into Parliament. The Bill proposes legislation to protect a woman against maternity discrimination. This would make it illegal to stop a woman from breastfeeding her baby in public places, for example in a café or museum. Find out more about the Bill.

How you can help

On 11 May, during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, the Equality Bill will have its second reading in Parliament. Please take action to protect a women’s right to breastfeed. Ask your MP to show their support for the breastfeeding clauses in the Equality Bill.

 

[thelilbump]

If it means i won't get kicked out of marks and spencers cafe again where do i sign lol!

 

[Shifter]

you were kicked out of M&S?! Did a customer complain or did management initiate that?

 

[thelilbump]

An old lady complained about it even though you couldn't see anything (i used muslins and stuff, sat in back corner, was very discrete) and following a long and embarrasing convo with staff and this lady I was told if i wasn't prepared to stop i needed to leave as it was making her uncomfortable.

Needless to say i never fed in public again!

 

[Shifter]

An old lady complained about it even though you couldn't see anything (i used muslins and stuff, sat in back corner, was very discrete) and following a long and embarrasing convo with staff and this lady I was told if i wasn't prepared to stop i needed to leave as it was making her uncomfortable.

Needless to say i never fed in public again!

How awful that it put you off feeding in public, though I totally understand why. Definitely worth writing to your MP about this bill then, you could include your experience to make the email/letter more personal and get their attention. The link in the OP should work now.

 

[Mervs Mum]

OMG!!!!

M&S in my town have a BF friendly sign up!!! They make a point that you CAN BF in their cafe.

I'd have smacked her round the head with one of my knockers - stupid woman.

The sooner the bill goes through the better.

Have you all signed the offical Downing Street petition??

 

[Mervs Mum]

I just re read the OP and I'm not sure if you realised that the proposed Equality Bill will only cover babies up to the age of 6 months.......ie. I wouldnt be protected OR any of you who's babies 'look' 6 months or older.....

https://petitions.number10.gov.uk/breastfeedbill/

This petition is to have no limit on the age of the child.

 

[Shifter]

Thanks Mervs mum, no I hadn't realised there was an age limit!

 

[Mervs Mum]

How stupid is that......BUT my hubby pointed out that they will probably HAVE to have some kind of limit or some eeejits would be commiting lewd acts in public, shall we say, and claim to be exercising their right to BF....

 

[thelilbump]

even so they could still do with makiing it older than 6 months, even 12 months is better.

 

[Shifter]

Agreed, the limit could be higher.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think about 4 years old. The problem with a limit is when you have a child that looks older. Hebe looks older than 6 months so at 12 you'd expect it may still be the case. I want to feed for 12 months minimum....

 

[milkmachine]

signed it

 

[jms895]

Age limit of 6 months that is fucking stupid!! I felt a twat at the weekend I had to feed Caine as was shopping in town 4 hours and I went and sat in the shitty boots changing room to feed him in case I got funny looks in public. Not ready to deal with that yet but I should not feel like this x

 

[jms895]

An old lady complained about it even though you couldn't see anything (i used muslins and stuff, sat in back corner, was very discrete) and following a long and embarrasing convo with staff and this lady I was told if i wasn't prepared to stop i needed to leave as it was making her uncomfortable.

Needless to say i never fed in public again!

How awful that it put you off feeding in public, though I totally understand why. Definitely worth writing to your MP about this bill then, you could include your experience to make the email/letter more personal and get their attention. The link in the OP should work now.

I would have told them to fuck off and ask them to try and remove me! Its not against the law is it? Can the police actually remove you?

 

[Mervs Mum]

It's not against the law but it's a 'private' business so they have the right to ask whom ever they like to leave unfortunately. You can then take action against them under the Sex Discrimintation act but that's a civil issue and most mum's just couldnt be bothered.

I personally would tell them were to get off too but some people dont like the confrontation, which is fair enough.

 

[thelilbump]

I did stand my ground because IMO i wasn't doing anything wrong. I wasn't exactly sat there topless or anything, was wearing my nursing top! I have written a letter to their HO complianing but haven't heard anything back yet, doubt i will tbh but we'll see.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Good lass!!!

What I dont understand (and maybe if you do get a response or talk to someone you could mention it) is why one branch ie yours, can be like that, yet my branch are consciously part of a BFing friendly group ie - they have signs up in the Cafe saying 'You are welcome to BF here'. M&S aren't franchised are they so.....hmmmm...dont get it....

 

[Mervs Mum]

This is my local campaign and they are listed as a supporter venue and have the protional pics up etc.....


https://www.onlynatural.org.uk/

 

[thelilbump]

well i have mentioned this in the letter actually, because there are 2 marks and spencers within my vacinity. Now neither of them have signs saying breastfeeding welcome but in 1 of them, there are always bfing mothers and they have a feeding and changing room and stuff. I thought i would be ok in the other store but clearly not and they don't have a feeding room either just a disabled toilet with change table. Odd isn't it?