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| Breastfeeding mother told to use pub toilet | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A breastfeeding mother said she was asked to "cover up" and feed her nine-week-old son in a pub toilet. | A breastfeeding mother said she was asked to "cover up" and feed her nine-week-old son in a pub toilet. |
| Lauren Noakes, 22, said "there was nobody around" at the Sneyd Arms in Stoke-on-Trent when she was approached by a member of staff. | Lauren Noakes, 22, said "there was nobody around" at the Sneyd Arms in Stoke-on-Trent when she was approached by a member of staff. |
| She was eating dinner with her sister and one-year-old son, Mickel, whilst breastfeeding Zion. | She was eating dinner with her sister and one-year-old son, Mickel, whilst breastfeeding Zion. |
| The pub apologised for the "ill-advised decision" that it said was against its policy. | The pub apologised for the "ill-advised decision" that it said was against its policy. |
| Ms Noakes, from Cannock, Staffordshire, said: "If you go to a beach you'll see a topless woman, but if you're breastfeeding it makes it ungraceful - but it's more graceful than a topless woman." | Ms Noakes, from Cannock, Staffordshire, said: "If you go to a beach you'll see a topless woman, but if you're breastfeeding it makes it ungraceful - but it's more graceful than a topless woman." |
| Rosalind Bragg from Maternity Action said it has been illegal for businesses to prohibit a mother from breastfeeding for five years. | Rosalind Bragg from Maternity Action said it has been illegal for businesses to prohibit a mother from breastfeeding for five years. |
| Ms Noakes said: "Mickel's one, so I had to put him in the high chair and feed him. I had to feed myself. And Zion woke up and wanted a feed at the same time." | Ms Noakes said: "Mickel's one, so I had to put him in the high chair and feed him. I had to feed myself. And Zion woke up and wanted a feed at the same time." |
| The mother of two was then approached by a member of staff who said "can you cover up and go in the disabled toilet" because "breastfeeding isn't good around other customers". | The mother of two was then approached by a member of staff who said "can you cover up and go in the disabled toilet" because "breastfeeding isn't good around other customers". |
| Ms Noakes said she was close to tears: "I stopped breastfeeding. Mickel was still moaning so I left my dinner and we just went. | Ms Noakes said she was close to tears: "I stopped breastfeeding. Mickel was still moaning so I left my dinner and we just went. |
| "I'm not the kind of person to complain. I don't feel confident doing it [breastfeeding] anyway so I was really embarrassed." | "I'm not the kind of person to complain. I don't feel confident doing it [breastfeeding] anyway so I was really embarrassed." |
| Ms Bragg is calling for the government to raise more awareness: "Businesses clearly are not aware of their legal obligation." | Ms Bragg is calling for the government to raise more awareness: "Businesses clearly are not aware of their legal obligation." |
| The pub released a statement saying: "We would like to apologise for the ill-advised decision taken. | The pub released a statement saying: "We would like to apologise for the ill-advised decision taken. |
| "The team member was trying to accommodate another guest's request, however this is against our policy to provide a welcoming and comfortable experience for breastfeeding mothers, and therefore shouldn't have happened." | "The team member was trying to accommodate another guest's request, however this is against our policy to provide a welcoming and comfortable experience for breastfeeding mothers, and therefore shouldn't have happened." |
| Ms Noakes said she was a regular at the pub but "will not go back at all" regardless of the apology. | Ms Noakes said she was a regular at the pub but "will not go back at all" regardless of the apology. |