Yesterday I posted here about an unfortunate incident which occurred in The Park Street Cafe in Bristol. Today I attended the breastfeeding protest which was arranged in response to this incident. We met at noon on college green in the centre of Bristol. It was moving how many women had come to support the countries breastfeeding mothers, because thats what this was about. It was about saying to the public we breastfeed its normal, its natural and we should be able to do it wherever and whenever our baby needs feeding.
The Cafe owner had posted an explanation to the organisers Facebook page prior to the event. He claims that the member of staff concerned is Italian and that the whole event was a cultural misunderstanding. That the intention had been to make the mother more comfortable because the cafe has big windows. Personally I find this unacceptable. Firstly I seriously doubt that “please move because you are being impolite” was a mistaken interpretation for “can I make you more comfortable”. Secondly in a society where we are taught to breastfeed by health professionals I think breastfeeding being seen through the cafe’s “big windows’ would be a positive step forward in normalising breastfeeding.
Me feeding Wonder Girl in the cafe concerned.
The cafe filled with breastfeeding mothers and the press. The owner and Kelly Schaecher were interviewed and photographed and the coverage is all over the press, which is great. Outside the cafe masses of women gathered with placards and smiles. It was a peaceful gathering, and I felt one in which we were being appreciated and supported for breastfeeding and for mothering.
Later we all headed back to college green for a massive breastfeeding photograph. It was lovely to see so many breastfeeding mothers and their babies, all smiling and enjoying the moment. The protest was a success. Breastfeeding was on the news, and I hope that despite a rather shaky excuse the cafe owner will have learned from this event. Well done to those that organised and attended this impressive gathering.
Kelly Schaecher at the heart of this situation.
awww thats just fantastic!! i would loved to have been there, even though i no longer breast feed. such a positive and amazing day. well down for being a part of it. you should be so proud x
lovely photo of you feeding Wonder Girl x
Thanks Jenny.
Lovely to see you today. I enjoyed being part of such positivity towards breastfeeding, let’s hope it makes a little bit of a difference 🙂 x
Yes , it was so lovely wasn’t it.
I’m so proud of you all. I spent years in hiding to breastfeed my children as I have breast cancer in the family so couldn’t risk quitting and using a bottle. I now have a colleague undergoing treatment for breast cancer. What you are doing by asserting the right to breastfeed will save more mothers of your generation from this horrible disease than you can ever imagine possible.
Good point Susan, after all breastfeeding doesn’t just benefit the baby but the mother as well. Thanks for the reminder.
wow a great turn out! well done to everyone involved 🙂
Thanks.
yay, glad you raised awareness and had fun while you were at it!
Well done! I´m proud of you. You are not that weak as some of us old mother´s (now grandmother´s) where. Good for you!!! Step on! /mormorann
Boob Power! well done ladies!!
That is fantastic! I’m so looking forward to breastfeeding this time round – I couldn’t breastfeed my little man, but this kind of event makes me more determined to breastfeed with baby 2!
Congratulations to you all!
xxx
The cafe owner’s flimsy excuse doesn’t explain why his employee went on to verbally abuse Kelly once she’d left the cafe. The waitress should be sacked. She stepped over the mark, and was abusive and rude.
Agreed. We need to see it until we all realise it’s just normal!