A mum has been left furious after being told by council leisure centre staff she wasn't allowed to breastfeed in the pool and had to go near a pool drain or in a cubicle.
Rachel McCarey, 39, was shocked when staff confronted her while she fed her one-year-old girl Annie in the pool at Haven Point Leisure Centre in South Shields.
This is the second time she's been told to not feed her baby in the water as she had a similar experience in November.
Rachel says the first time she was told to move in case the infant was sick.
After the swim, she claims she was confronted the manager and was assured there would be an investigation into what happened.
When she returned to the same pool last week, she says a lifeguard told her she could breastfeed in the pool but - provided she stood out of sight next to a drain.
Rachel complained to the South Tyneside Council bosses who run the leisure centre.
A reply from the local authority on Wednesday stated the Leisure Manager is investigating - but she would have to move to the side of the pool or use a cubicle while breastfeeding until inquiries were complete.
Rachel, who is also mother to seven-year-old Bella, said: “I’m stunned that this is happening in the 21st century.
“I am so angry on behalf of all breastfeeding moms - and so frustrated that this is still happening.
“In the eight years of breastfeeding, I was never approached and told to feed in a specific location.
“I felt so uncomfortable as if my swimming experience had been ruined. I felt like I might as well get out of the water.
“I can’t believe this is their policy. We should be allowed to breastfeed openly wherever we want.
Vowing never to return to the leisure centre, she added: “I don’t even think women should be targeted, we should be able to breastfeed as needed.
“I can tell you that the Equality Act 2010 states that a woman can breastfeed anywhere, anytime. By saying I have to be next to a drain or in a cubicle, the centre manager openly discriminated against me and my baby.”
The family are regulars at swimming pools in Newcastle and North Tyneside and she has never been asked by the staff there to breastfeed in a specific location.
Rachel said babies are regularly breastfed and mothers shouldn’t be expected to move every time.
It also means the hot tub cannot be used by breastfeeding mothers as the drain is on the other side of the pool.
She added: “I’m not going back to Haven Point, I’m boycotting because I find their attitude to this absolutely disgusting.
“I am furious that I have to wait 10 working days for an answer and have to abide by these archaic rules.
South Tyneside Council said: “South Tyneside Council is a strong supporter of breastfeeding and actively supports breastfeeding mothers to feed their babies when needed.
“We want all of our bathers to feel safe and comfortable in our facilities.
“While we have no issue with mothers breastfeeding in our pool areas, we do ask mothers to feed their babies at the pool edge to reduce the safety risk to all pool users.
“If breastfeeding mothers prefer more privacy, cubicles are available. We believe in taking a balanced approach to the needs of mothers, babies and other pool users.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.”
The Mirror contacted Haven Point and the council for a comment.
