A mother is expressing her frustration after being told by YMCA staff to leave a toddler gym class while breastfeeding her baby. In an unsettling incident, this mom from Limerick, Pennsylvania, is highlighting the ongoing challenges breastfeeding mothers face in public spaces, a reality that continues to surprise many in today’s society.
In a Facebook post that has since gained significant attention, Jessica Turner recounted her experience during a weekly toddler gym session with her 19-month-old son. When he became hungry, she discreetly found a spot on the balance beam to breastfeed. However, two employees approached her with an unexpected request. “I sat there against the wall with storage shelves full of toys beside me,” she explained. “As I was nursing, two higher-ups entered and informed me that I needed to move to the benches outside the classroom because there were ‘men uncomfortable’ with the situation.”
It seems these men had never encountered a breastfeeding baby before. When Jessica’s friend inquired if there was a designated nursing area, the staff member suggested the locker room instead. “The locker room is filled with men, women, and children,” Jessica responded. “I made it clear that I wouldn’t nurse in a bathroom, but she insisted I couldn’t nurse in the class. When I pointed out that such a request is illegal, she argued otherwise.”
In fact, laws in 49 states protect breastfeeding mothers from being asked to relocate to private areas. Despite Jessica’s insistence, the employees checked the law but continued to push for her to use the locker room. “I spoke with the teacher and associate director, who confirmed that it is illegal to ask a nursing mother to leave a room,” she recalled. “However, the associate director insisted that the YMCA prefers mothers to use a cover or go behind curtains in the locker room.”
Jessica noted the associate director claimed there was no issue with breastfeeding mothers, yet her experience suggested otherwise. “I can’t believe that in 2016, in a family-friendly environment, we are still discriminating against women for how they choose to feed their children,” she concluded her post.
The incident has sparked debate. YMCA CEO Mark Stevens explained that an employee had clarified that Jessica wasn’t merely sitting on the balance beam; she was obstructing a class using it. “We followed up and found that the employee asked her to move, which she misunderstood as being unwelcome to breastfeed,” he told reporters.
Jessica has since received apologies from YMCA representatives, and in support, a group of mothers organized a nurse-in. Regardless of the differing narratives, it’s clear that the incident left Jessica feeling uncomfortable while nursing, and she deserves credit for voicing her experience. It’s unfortunate that breastfeeding mothers must often navigate discrimination and discomfort while simply feeding their babies.
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In summary, a mother faced an uncomfortable situation at a YMCA when asked to leave a toddler gym class for breastfeeding her son. Despite the law protecting her right to nurse, staff insisted she move to a co-ed locker room. The incident sparked a broader conversation about breastfeeding rights and the continued challenges mothers encounter.