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Breastfeeding mum in Leeds poolside ban
A MUM was ordered to stop breastfeeding at a leisure centre because she was too close to the swimming pool, Leeds City Council said.
Lavina Lewin was feeding three-month-old daughter Pruedance at Rothwell Leisure Centre when the duty manager confronted her at the side of the pool.
But the mum was sitting several feet away from the water's edge when the incident happened – and when she asked the manager if it was for health and safety reasons, he said it was because "nobody wanted to see that".
Mrs Lewin, 34, who lives on Church Avenue, Swillington, had visited the leisure centre with her mother-in-law and her other two children, Alexander, 11, and Ophelia, three, to celebrate Alexander's birthday.
She said: "Obviously I understand that you can't feed a baby in or near the pool, in case they're sick, but I was quite far back from the water's edge.
"I asked the manager if it was for health and safety reasons and he said "no, it's because nobody wants to see you doing that'."
"I asked him if he would have had a problem if I was feeding Pruedance with a bottle. He said: 'I've never had a problem with bottles.'
"I was upset and very angry. There were witnesses and other people agreed he was out of order."
All Leeds City Council venues, including leisure centres, museums and one-stop shops, are signed up to the You CAN Breastfeed Here! campaign, which is run by Leeds-based Breast Buddies.
A Leeds City Council spokesman said: "We are keen to support mothers who want to breastfeed in council buildings. However, breastfeeding at certain locations, such as the immediate poolside in a sports centre is not appropriate, for health, safety and hygiene reasons."
But Mrs Lewin, who said the incident was not going to stop her from breastfeeding in public, had a meeting with Leeds City Council officials on Tuesday, where she said bosses issued a full apology and admitted they were in the wrong.
She said: "As a woman, it is my right to breastfeed and if my baby needs feeding, I will feed her. Incidents like this stop women from breastfeeding, which is terrible because it's the healthiest thing you can do for your child."
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 10 February 2012
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Temperature: -9 C to 1 C
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