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Breastfeeding Mother Asked Feed Baby in Bathroom

by KREX News Room
by Hilary Martin

Story Created: Aug 31, 2011 at 5:30 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2011 at 6:44 PM MDT

Grand Junction - A mom breastfeeding at the Orchard Mesa Pool is asked to feed her child in the bathroom. Jessica Coleman was breastfeeding her infant son last Sunday, when, apparently, someone felt uncomfortable and asked the manager to tell her to do it somewhere else.

"This was very upsetting to me. It took me off guard. I walked away feeling very upset and shaking," said Coleman before she met with city officials Wednesday.

She's asking the city to now inform its employees of her rights.

"He informed me that some patrons had said they had felt uncomfortable," explained Coleman.

Coleman told him about the Colorado law that allows woman to breastfeed wherever they would like.

"He wasn't asking me to leave, and he said he was aware of the law, but he was asking her to go to the bathroom," said Coleman.

She says she then explained how the bathroom isn't a sanitary place for adults to eat, let alone a child.

"I felt the need to leave right away because I was so uncomfortable," she said.

Wednesday she met with City of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation officials, who admit the situation wasn't handled the best way.

"It could have been handled differently," said Larry Manchester, Supervisor of Recreation for the City of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department.

Coleman says she was offered an apology which she accepted.

"I am pleased to say that they are using this as an opportunity to develop new employee training protocol," said Coleman.

Officials are now teaming up with the breastfeeding consultant in order to make sure another mother doesn't have to go through what Coleman did. She says she felt encouraged by the meeting and will definitely be following up with Parks and Rec to make sure the policy goes into effect.

If you're interested in supporting local breastfeeding mothers you can join their Facebook page, just search: Grand Junction Supports Breastfeeding.

Next Article Apartment Fire Displaces Several GJ Residents

View Oldest Comments First

LJK said on Tuesday, Sep 6 at 3:25 AM

Most all of my thoughts have been said already but I'd love to add some more. 1. At a swimming pool, there are many woman in skimpy bikinis. Why is seeing a breast covered with a piece of string ok but feeding a baby isn't? Breasts are 'hanging out' at the pool already without a baby! If you're that prudish, stay home please! 2. It's not fair to simply tell a mom to pump. Even if she's ok with that, a lot of babies refuse bottles. How would you feel if you had to eat something different than you normally do just because other people don't like the way you eat?

cindy said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 12:17 PM

Karen, simply because a breastfeeding mother may have part of her breast exposed that does not make her NAKED. Why does it make you so uncomfortable to have to explain to your grandchildren that breastfeeding is normal and as nature intended? A breastfeeding mom shouldn't have to "compromise" and yes Americans are extremely prudish!! Renne the difference of a man exposing himself in public because he is aroused by it. That is done with sexual context. Nursing is not sexual and breastfeeding mothers are not aroused by it.

Stephanie said on Saturday, Sep 3 at 6:34 AM

What is sad it that people are uncomfortable with something that should be the norm.

Ashley said on Friday, Sep 2 at 6:48 PM

I don't understand the argument that "I dont want to see her breasts and I don't want my grandkids/children etc to" Why can't you use it as a teachable moment. "Well honey that's how babies get fed." Further more why do we complain about breastfeeding but don't complain about real women's issues like violence against women, the objectivity of women, same pay for the same work etc.

Mr. C said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 6:21 PM

lotsofpain: I'm glad you like to stereotype people. I've needed a good laugh today. Thank you! Just to fill your curiosity, I have spent plenty of time in Central America where people breastfeed in public without anything to cover themselves. I'm glad to see that you are a mind reader in telling me what I think that it is "dirty or shamefull" to nurse in public. In case you can't read, I stated that my wife nursed in public as well. BUT SHE WAS RESPECTFULL OF OTHERS AND COVERED HERSELF!!!! Is that to hard to ask of others? Do I agree that sex offenders are getting off to easy? Yes, so why don't we stop criticizing each other and try to do something about it? I think we have that goal in common, don't you?

TGrndmama said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 4:50 PM

I have personally witnessed Jessica feed this baby many many times and she is always discreet in the way she holds the baby and feeds the baby. Besides even if she wasn't discreet, after all most of us were breast fed and it (the boob) is a part of our anatomy a mammillary gland, duh!? Come on people really?!

lotsofpain said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 2:35 PM

“keen perception” That's right, you act like are standards tower above all others in the world, you seam to think that it is dirty or shameful if a woman breast feeds in public. And the answer you gave about sex crimes in our area does not make any sense " because we care about things like that?" If we cared so much then why did two child molesters just get let off with no jail time last week. Please expand on that will you! Also I would be willing to bet you have never lived or traveled overseas have you? You really must live a sheltered life or have funny underwear, you know the kind! And please never go to Amsterdam your head may explode. There is a world beyond the U.S. you know. A world that doesn't rage never ending wars, a world that doesn't kill millions of innocent people over lies of WMD a world that you most certainly originally came from when the prudes were ejected from Europe and once in the new world burned young girls for being witches. Standards you say?

jolie said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 2:22 PM

lotsofpain... come on out of left field...pervs and pedophiles don't use prostitutes... doesn't work for them. 'Sex' crimes aren't about sex... they are about power, hate etc. We probably do have a 'Victorian' attitude about the body here in the U.S. But I bet the European woman don't breastfeed in public without covering up! They are discreet..except maybe in France - lol.

Mr. C. said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 2:10 PM

lotsofpain: I have to laugh at your “keen perception” and “judgment of others”. If someone claims to believe in a higher standard they must crazy. Maybe the reason we have so many sex crimes is because people actually care about those kinds of things around here and they stand up for what is right. By the way, what you call the "needs" of the pervs and pedifiles is just lack of self control. I love how everyone who doesn't have standards is quick to shout "Get with the times" and criticizes others for their beliefs.

Jolie said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 2:09 PM

Breastfeed in public if you need to, but just cover up! simple. Its called modesty and respect. Common Sense sure has disappeared.

Anonymous said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 1:31 PM

I am a father of 2 kids that were both breast fed. So I am all for a mother's right to be able to breast feed their child wherever,whenever the need arrises. My wife covered up every single time and never complained even once! Nobody is trying to take away your rights, its just that most people dont want to see you with your breast hanging out. A little bit of self respect is all people are asking. Just cover up already and stop causing unneeded problems lady!!!

lotsofpain said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 1:26 PM

Mr.C. Obviously you must be a closet pedophile or something, it's always the one's that act like the naked body is shameful and then tout standards or religion that end up being privet perverts themselves. Did you ever stop to think why there are so many child molesters in Grand Junction and sex crimes are on the rise. Europe doesn't have these sorts of problems on the scale that the U.S. has, and why? Because the naked body is not seen as evil or shameful, prostitution is legal so it keeps the pervs and pedophiles needs down to a minimum and doesn't effect society in a negative way i.e. sex crimes. Get with the times Western Sloper and we are the ones going down the drain if you haven't noticed!

Rufus said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 12:54 PM

"I felt the need to leave right away because I was so uncomfortable". Personally, I don't have a problem with it. However, it sounds to me like she was already at least a little uncomfortable and was just waiting for it to happen when someone brought it to her attention. Aren't there ways to pump the milk out prior to being put into potentially awkward situations? Sure, the laws give her the right, but I'm also sure that she knew that there was the potential for others to be uncomfortable. It sounds to me like she was anticipating some sort of issue to arise and was all prepared to be upset. She got exactly what she was expecting. She could have handled it with a little more discretion right from the start and there would never have been an issue.

Mr. C. said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 11:07 AM

I'm proud to be a 'prude', or maybe I just don't let my standards sink with the rest of our culture. I agree with others,women should "cover up"! There are many things to cover up with not just a blanket or towel. My wife has nursed 4 children and always covered up while in public. NONE of them has ever had problems breathing while being covered by a blanket or something else. I don't doubt that there were others showing more skin than she was while nursing, but let's be honest she would have to be pretty quick to get her top back on with out showing her nipple after nursing. And regarding us having to go a 'long way' to catch up with Europe; frankly our society doesn't need to go down the drain with their standards. We need to keep our standards UP.

Karen Kulp said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 10:22 AM

It may be your right to breastfeed in public and I respect that, I just don't want my 6 y.o. and 11 y.o. grandsons asking me why that lady is naked. Please just use a little common courtesy and throw a receiving blanket over your shoulder. His mother has enough trouble explaining why they can't run around naked.

prudebasher said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 10:09 AM

Not one of you prudes would make it in Europe, they would laugh you out of the countries, I saw this American prudishness all the time in my 9 years I spent in Europe, newly assigned personnel would be shocked at bare breasted women on bill boards and complain to the Commanders. Of course the Commanders would just say don't look if it offends you and don't go swimming at the beaches or pools if you can't look at a naked body without being offended or getting a woody. beaches and pools that allow you to go naked or bathing suit are the norm. Americans have a long way to go.

Fred said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 8:48 AM

This is creepy, not because she breast fed, because of the folks who can't handle it. Talk about an over reaching government and over reaching sanitized individuals. It is not like breast feeding is a new fangled concept. It is not sexual, however how did your parents stoop so low to have sex in the first place to create you. Oh, I guess God did that, not your parents. Grow up and stop snickering like a teenager and stop being appalled like a self-righteous moron. You are the new one to this world, not breast feeding.

Breast feeding mother said on Thursday, Sep 1 at 8:40 AM

Compromise!! Ok a statement has been made! Breast feeders are selfish when they insist on their rights at the expense of those who are uncomfortable with a women exposing her breast in public. Ok, she has rights, but it would be nice if she could consider others. I have many friends who breast fed their babies and never exposed themselves in public.

Anonymouse said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 10:55 PM

What ever happened to modesty? I'm saying, not to go to the bathroom, however, if the child is that hungry feed him in an appropriate locations, like at home. Maybe if some others would also follow her example,flopping the old boob out to show off, hiding behind an infant, maybe the ones that this offends will notn go to this pool. every

amerianspeak said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 10:52 PM

I'm a breastfeeder and I cover. Babies like to feel snuggly even when it's hot, a light weight blanket is sufficient or even a piece of gauze. C'mon, y'all are just trying to make mountains out of molehills. Breastfeed - yes, uncovered - NO! Why not compromise?

Rennae MacFarlane said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 10:34 PM

Keep it covered or be arrested for indecent exposure. Whats the difference from a man showing himself and being termed a sex offender There are children present

Kara said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 9:10 PM

views breasts as sex toys, leading people to view nursing as an obscene act! We need to step back and realize that this woman wasn't doing a table dance, she was nourishing her child as nature intended. Period.

Kara said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 9:05 PM

To the people who think breastfeeding itself is acceptable enough but nursing openly isn't/i.e. "she should put a blanket over him" "should have covered up" etc: first of all, you do realize that this is August in the desert of Colorado, right? Why on earth would anyone forcibly cover a child with a blanket in the heat of summer and expect them to be comfortable enough to nurse well? I can tell you from experience, babies older than six or seven months old will either make a game of pulling the blanket off or will just openly fight being covered, period. Should we make a defenseless child physically uncomfortable because someone has a misplaced sense of propriety? That's not even touching on the fact that thinking the mother should "cover up" implies that she is doing something shameful by breastfeeding her child. This point of view is obviously purely cultural, as anyone who's watched a National Geography special for five minutes would realize--our patriarchal culture unfortunately

Morgan said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 8:05 PM

II - I can say she did not have anything covering the baby as she was siting in the pool, do you cover a babies head when they are taking a bottle? No, no you would not it makes it hard to breath and they do not like it9 for the most part) She was showing FAR less breast than most of the women/ teens/ and pre teens in the place. Her nipple was COMPLETELY obscured by the babies head( I was siting next to her so i can tell you for certain you could see nothing but side boob). If some one feels that it is not something they want to see than they should look away like any of the rest of us do when we find something someone is wearing offensive or obscene.

John Jones said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 7:44 PM

I must have to agree with this,Indeed this is so stupid to make a mother breastfeed her child in a restroom.And yes feeding a baby in a restroom is a very unsanitary place tt to feed a baby.That employee needs to be fired over this issue I feel. That is a violation of a new mother's rights.

ll said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 7:40 PM

I'm curious if Jessica had something, like a receiving blanket, covering her breast, while she was feeding. If not, I can understand why some people were uncomfortable with her breast feeding in public. I have no problem with a mother breast feeding in public but I do not want to see her bare breast nor would I want my grandsons to look at her bare breast.

GJ Doula said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 7:00 PM

think this situation was handled wonderfully by the Mother, not so well by the Manager at the pool. A breastfeeding mother should have the right to feed her child anyway a bottle feeding mother would be able to feed her child with out having to be harassed or intimidated.

tater said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 6:04 PM

Jessica did the right thing. The city broke the law. Selective page linking I see...nice.

Anonymous said on Wednesday, Aug 31 at 5:57 PM

This is so stupid! This mother has EVERY right to breastfeed her child in public. Other adults and children eat in public, right?!!!!! Get real! She, hopefully is discreet, but honestly this is a baby eating! Stand for your rights Sweet mother! Your baby should be able to eat where you want him or her too eat. Bathrooms are NOT sanitary. So how about the staff at Orchard Mesa Pool eat lunch in the bathroom! And all other folk who come there should eat in the bathroom?

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