For memorial day we went to the Marriot Depot that has an indoor waterpark. Sunday afternoon I was nursing Angie at the side of the pool, and sure enough, 5 minutes later, a young, red-faced guy walks up and asks me to stop.......bodily fluids...blah blah blah....
So I stopped and my friend Danielle went to "have a chat" with him.
She asked him if he realized how many bodily fluids are actually getting in the pool from swimmers, compared to the most-likely ZERO fluids getting in the pool from simply sitting on the edge of the pool nursing. There is SO much chlorine in public pools, I don't know how anything could possibly live in that water!
He said "true, but it was mostly an issue of exposure." So she said "Do you see how many women in slinky little bikinis there are in here? What's the difference, really?" "Well, I guess not a whole lot", he says, "but it's just that people were complaining". So she told him that there are no laws in MN forbidding women from nursing in any public area, in case they didn't know, and that next time someone complains, they should remember that.
The next day they had different staff so I nursed Angelyn and no one busted me and then I started to feel sad, mad, ****ty, shameful, etc...so I went up and asked for the manager and got connected via phone and told her the story and she said she would have her manager call me. I never realized how yucky or upsetting that can be until it happens to you. Pssstt.....and by the way I leak even when I ain't nursing, silly people.
After I got home I realized that not only there are no laws forbidding it, there are laws in place saying women have the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime without hassle. New Jersey law actually allows civil penalties for anyone who tries to prevent a woman from breastfeeding in public!
Also, Danielle sent a email about the incident. Here it is:
To whom it may concern:
This afternoon (Sunday May 30th) we were guests at your pool, invited by some friends of ours (Kathy Jo and Jerry Peterson) who had stayed there for the weekend. My own family and I have stayed at your hotel on two other occasions in the past couple years over various holidays, and have always really enjoyed ourselves.
Today, my friend was nursing her 9 month old baby at the edge of your pool- not IN the pool, but only sitting on the edge. Within a few minutes, one of the attendants (tall, thin young man with glasses) came over and asked her to stop, and perhaps go upstairs and feed the baby. She did stop, and was a bit uncomfortable, so I offered to speak to the young man. He was very polite, by the way, so I really have nothing personal against him.
My point to him and the other male attendant was:
1. Considering all the bodily fluid that gets in the pool from swimmers, how is nursing a baby on the edge of the pool a health concern?
2. If it was an issue of skin exposure, I could readily point out at least two women in very skimpy bikini tops that showed as much skin as my friend.
3. In the state of Minnesota, an establishment can not forbid a breastfeeding woman to feed her child in any place where both mother and child are allowed to be, i.e. the edge of your pool.
Here is a copy of the law:
http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/Bills23.html
I would appreciate a response to this matter. My friend's family was trying to enjoy a weekend at your pool, and this did create a bit of tension.
The hotel manager called me just a bit ago and he was totally totally cool. He apologized, he told me they co-slept and they extended nursed their three kids. He said his wife would have decked anyone that got in her face about feeding her children. And he had a staff meeting today and reinforced that they have no policy against nursing anywhere in the hotel and they are going to include it in the orientation for now on. I even told him that we have people available to do training and education, if need be. Oh and he would welcome a nurse in!
Award for 3.5 yrs nursing Twins
I'm so sorry you were made to feel like that. 
I'm glad the story has a happy ending. 
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