Breast-feeding moms plan protest at Englewood water park Friday
A group of mothers plan to breast-feed their infants near the entrance to the city of Englewood’s Pirates Cove Family Aquatic Center Friday.
The exact time and other details have not been publicized, but it was sparked by an Alamosa woman being asked to stop breastfeeding on Sunday morning.
The breast-feeding protest was first reported by 7News.
In an e-mail to The Denver Post, Charlotte Dirkes said she was nursing her infant in the kiddy pool with a water park employee asked her to stop because other patrons had complained, saying. “Their children were seeing more than they needed to see,” Dirkes stated in her e-mail.
“Numerous times I mentioned that the law states that I have the legal right to breastfeed where ever I am allowed to be. The conversation ended,” she said.
Dirkes said she is bothered that the employee did not know the law.
“I am and was very saddened to know this is how a presumably family friendly establishment treats mothers and babies doing the most natural thing possible; breastfeeding,” Dirkes stated. “By asking me to stop, cover up or go somewhere more private Pirates Cove violated my right to nurse in public. This is unacceptable.”
“All women should be free and unafraid to feed their children how they best see fit, however that may be.”
A spokespeople for the water park was not immediately available to comment Thursday night.
Michael Flaherty, the deputy city manager of Englewood, apologized in a letter provided to The Post by Dirkes:
“We understand that you were well within your rights to breastfeed your child at any time or location. The City of Englewood sincerely apologizes to you and her family for any personal offense that we may have caused,” the letter said.
Dirkes said after the incident Sunday, she contacted a friend who also is a breast-feeding advocate, who then began discussing it on online forums.
“I began to call leaders from the local La Leche League chapters to get their support and viewpoint,” she said. “At this point I found out I had a large number of other mothers who were in support of my situation and myself. Many of these women have called and e-mailed both Pirate’s Cove and members of the Englewood City Council.”
Dirkes said she wants to see a “public written apology be made to my family and myself.”
It sounds like she did this with the intent to cause a stir. It sounds premeditated. I am all for women breast feeding in public and as needed but use some descretion. Perhaps not everybody wants to or needs to have it thrown in their face in the name of generating publicity.
She incorrectly assumes that the Englewood employees don’t know the law. Actually, the Englewood employees were responding to complaints by other guests at Pirates Cove. Complaints meaning that her behavior was uncomfortable for others. She was simply being asked to be considerate. Not everything needs to be made into a big deal. Don’t try to prove some academic point at the cost of showing consideration to others.
Cover up a little. A tiny bit of modesty never hurt anyone.
No one will deny your right to feed the tots. But be a little less militant and your will get plenty of support.
For its part, Pirates Cove issued an apology to the breast-feeding mom and said it would use this as a valuable training lesson for staff.
Pirates Cove already issued a public apology, but apparently that’s not enough for Dirkes.
She’s now protesting for a written apology.
Sounds like what the breast-feeder really wants is more attention.
Just because something is legal does not mean that common sense should be ignored. I have no problem with women breast feeding in public if discretion is employed, and I don’t mean going to a bathroom, car, etc. but if there is a picnic bench off to the side why not use it,instead of breast feeding in the kiddie pool. Just because you can legally breast feed anyplace you are want does not mean you should.
Legality here is irrelevant. It’s inconsiderate to breastfeed in public when you know it offends many of the people around you. Show some respect for other people’s feelings. (And for the record, I’m a woman.)
Virtually all the comments here exemplify America’s sick fascination with sex. In America, “private parts” have to be covered at all times…because…they make us want to rape and kill…or something. It’s pathetic, really. I have four children and five grandchildren. All were breast-fed…sometimes in public places. If some idiot had ever approached my wife or daughters and tried to publicly shame them for doing something that is absolutely natural, beautiful, and LEGAL, he would have received a mouthful of my fist. And then I would have pressed charges for harassment and assault.
The sickness, the immorality, the shame, is in all of you. Breastfeeding is not a peep show. It’s not a sex act. These mothers are not showing off or making a political statement. They’re taking care of their kids. Leave them alone.
One note: Tomorrow’s demonstration at the pool will be a political statement. It will be a response to the ridiculous attitudes represented by these posts. It will be dozens of loving mothers who are sick and tired of your attitude and ignorance, saying, “We have the right to do this. We will do this… anywhere, anytime. You won’t stop us. Find someone else to bully.” Good for them.
Let’s be very clear and very real.
What she is doing is LEGAL. She has every right to nurse her child in public whether you like it or not. If you don’t like it, work to get the law changed or take your sensibilities somewhere else. The world is full of ugly and offensive and stupid and obnoxious. Put on your big boy pants and find a way to cope with it.
The real issue here is the gutless actions of the water park. They had ZERO right to even broach the issue with the mother. She was not breaking a rule or a law or a policy. The employees likely knew they were infringing on someone’s legal rights but tried to weasel out of their unlawful behavior by not directly asking her to leave or cover up. They very carefully tried to skirt the law and the mother is calling them on it. Good for her.
We thankfully live in a nation of laws. That still means something to some people.
The article isn’t clear on one important point- were people uncomfortable because she was IN the pool or because she was exposing “too much”?. I nursed my son for 14 months, often in public, always as discreetly as possible, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with someone nursing while sitting IN the kiddie pool either. I know the risk of any infection is minuscule, but facts are it IS a bodily fluid… Would you want someone openly bleeding or peeing in the pool? (Yes, I know some kids do, but I don’t want some kid to drop his shorts and pee openly).
If there isn’t a law about nursing IN a public pool, then maybe there needs to be… and while women are free to totally expose their breasts to nurse, I just can’t figure out why they’d want to. My son was easy to cover up (even at 14 mos) and if he was a wigglier child or always pulling the cover off, then I would have just planned better and nursed at home, in the air-conditioned car, or at the very least, a quieter corner. But that’s just me…
Hope no offense to anyone, just my $.02
are you freaking kidding me!?!? you realize woman’s breasts leak right?!?! which means that if you are a breastfeeding mom your breasts could leak anytime you are in the water! and what about woman who are on their period, the blood also gets in the water, and so do vaginal secretions, and so on and so forth so basically no woman should ever be in the pool?!? maybe you should just keep your kids at home in their own pool so they don’t come into contact with other people!
It’s an interesting discussion. I’m all for breastfeeding and the employee was reacting to complaints from other patrons. Pirates Cove has since apologized so I wonder if a protest is necessary. I’m interested to hear how this all plays out.
Ok, I am a breastfeeding mom who believes I should be able to breastfeed anywhere I am comfortable doing so (as in, not in a stall in a public bathroom just to make others comfortable), but IN a kiddie pool? Am I readin that correctly? She was IN the pool?
That’s about as comfortable and sanitary as a public bathroom. But hey, whatever gets your point across. For the record, I’d be kind of annoyed by anyone eating in a public kiddie pool.
I recall a story a few years back about the staff at Water World going off on a woman breastfeeding discretely under a tree, which was ridiculous (the staff). This doesn’t seem like a case of an over-zealous staff, but someone trying to make a statement.
Are we ever going to meet in the middle? Can people not get so icked out over a woman feeding her child and can we all exercise a little courtesy and consideration for those around us and not demand to be catered to at every turn? Maybe I don’t have the facts right, but it’s give and take.
I understand breatfeeding, I breast fed all three of my kids and now have soon to be 9 grandchildren, my daughter has breastfed all 4 of her children and is still breast feeding her 7 month old and she is usually very good of covering herself when feeding, now there were times in church that I felt she should go to the nursery or another room in the church and she refused to and I did not agree with her nursing right in the middle of the church service. but she does have a right to feed the kids but I honestly think that this lady is taking it to far, just cover up please and I think you will have a better respect from people
I agree with most of the comments above. Just show a little modesty. You are in public and not all people are comfortable with your boob hanging out to breastfeed, especially in an environment meant for kids. With that being said, is a kiddie pool really the place to breastfeed? Who eats in a pool??? Why not get out and sit off to the side??
I think the protest is a bit much and at this point it seems like she is just looking for attention.
I completely agree about the bodily fluid issue ^. I’m a huge advocate for being able to breastfeed in public but this is a different case I think.
The fact remains that it is legal to nurse in public and you do not have to use a cover. I would say there is absolutely NO risk for infection and that cannot be the argument made against this. It isn’t like she is spraying breastmilk into the pool. I would bet that (being as she also has older children and this child was 10 months old) she is pretty proficient at breastfeeding and there were not even tiny droplets that dripped into the pool. I think that a nurse-in is a great idea. Until women can breastfeed without being told to go somewhere else or cover up it is necessary to show the public that it is, in fact, their right to nurse their children where ever they see fit.
Agree with you wholeheartedly MHM. One employee who did not know the legal rights and reacted to patron complaints does not warrant a protest. The city apologized, it’s been publicized, and I’m guessing as a result of the publicity all employees will receive training. Not sure what the issue is here.
In the pool is probably not the best choice. In public should not be an issue, ever. If it offends you in any way, perhaps it’s best to look the other way and move along. This issue doesn’t seem to exist in other countries. I just don’t get why Americans need to keep hashing this out.
I am a big supporter of breastfeeding and all for those who wish to do so in public. However, it is not necessary to be obnoxious and blatantly inconsiderate of those around you. Do we fart out loud in public? Why not?? It’s ‘NATURAL’. Please just be a modest woman and simply cover yourself up a bit and be discreet. If you show your boobies, our children will stare and it will be awkward when I look in your general direction. Why are we giving our time to this nonsense? WHY AM I POSTING MY OPINION ON FB?? GAH.
My only issue is that if I were to complain about a bikini or men’s speedos I found far too small or –gasp–somewhat see-through (and therefore showing far too much) I would have been laughed at. That said, the water in a public pool is nasty, and I would have washed myself before nursing–and would not have done it in the water.
I am all for breast feeding and i breastfed both of my sons… I am not against public breast feeding….but seriously, in the pool? Is she too dang lazy to get up and go sit in a chair or on a towel outside the pool until her kid is finished? I mean some women are going a little overboard with the whole “I am a breast feeding mom I can do whatever the hell I want to” attitude. And the minute someone has an issue with the way the decide to breast feed they have a “nurse in”. It is over the top and obnoxious!!
I dunno… According to the article, the employee asked her to be more discreet, she informed them of the law, the employee left and she continued. Seems like that’s EXACTLY how that’s supposed to work.
On the other hand, I do think that because so many people remain squeamish about breastfeeding (see most of the comments above, and no, you are not fooling me with the “I’m all for breastfeeding” preface when you follow it with “except when it bothers me”) there’s a lot of work to do to “normalize” it for everyone. If you don’t have a problem with bottle feeding an infant somewhere, you should not have a with nursing there. That means in a mall, at a pool, at the playground,
Crazy I actually have breastfed there many times (like last weekend actually) but I never have tried to do it in the pool, just on the lawn chairs by the pool. I am also the type of person that uses a towel to cover up just because I dont want anyone seeing my boobies especially with all those kids running around
A friend was moved out of the pool wile nursing in a local pool and it was explained as a bodily fluid issue. More if the kids spits up in the pool after feeding. Feeding a foot away or more totally acceptable. I nurse in public all the time but it is gross if a baby pukes alot in the pool. And some are spitters.
I agree with Heather..it is our right to breatfeed, but it is not our right to show other children our breasts . I too used a towel to also allow my child some privacy and to drown out the noise and the glare…sometimes we just push the limits..not thinking of others.
@lori Johnson – can you conceive of the idea that I can be BOTH “all for breast feeding”, AND of the belief that us ladies can be discrete and conscientious of those around us at the same time?? I’m sorry but it is in our black & white thinking that our society has lost all of its common sense.
I breastfeed my children in public and depending on the shirt I’m wearing it depends on how discreet I am. We are going to PC tomorrow and unless I’m trying to keep the sun off our 8 month old I wont be covering not in protest though. I see both sides…
1. I have the right to breastfeed my child in public. However, I’m not allowed to take a burger into the pool (most places.) I’d probably be addressed by Pirates Cove if I took a bottle of expressed milk/ formula, pepsi or a burger into the pool- because it’s food and food in any form can contaminate the pool.
2. It sort of is an issue of bodily fluids. Most pools mandate swim diapers, many pools mandate reusable swim diapers because they tend to leak less. If fecal matter or vomit get into a pool, they shut them down. A friend of mine had a daughter shut down swim class (for which our daughter was quite thankful) because she spit up formula in the pool. I could see why someone may be concerned about a child eating in the pool, albeit two weeks or two years, if that child spits up at all the pool may be shutting down.
Pro Public BF here too, but do they allow others to eat in the pool? Can I bring a picnic IN the pool? I don’t think so- why on earth would you want to feed your baby in there?
I am all for breastfeeding and I don’t see a problem with doing it in public but have a little modesty. I breastfed my son for a year but found ways of doing it in less public places and making it a private bonding time- which is what breastfeeding is. Some of these moms are turning it into something else which is sad! That being said I do not want my now 7 year old son to see a random woman’s breast reguardless of what it is being used for.