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Pool Area Not For Breastfeeding, Ann Arbor Woman Told
YMCA Rule Concerns Food, Drink By Pool And Distraction To Lifeguards



An Ann Arbor woman says she was asked to stop breastfeeding her baby in public at an area YMCA. Now she hopes by speaking out, the gray line about breast-feeding in public is eliminated.

On Dec. 22, Kelly Fuks took her 6-month-old daughter, Ansley, and her 3-year-old son, Maxwell, to the swimming area of the YMCA in Ann Arbor.

According to Fuks, a lifeguard of the YMCA approached her and told her she could not breast-feed by the pool.

"Ansley is a paid member of the YMCA too," Fuks said.

Senior Programs Director at the YMCA Diane Carr said there is no food or water allowed in the pool area and exceptions cannot be made.

"It's difficult to be able to make exceptions and then be able to enforce them," Carr told The Ann Arbor News.

Fuks later contacted the Y by telephone and told the newspaper that the reason she was told breast-feeding by the pool was not allowed was that it created a distraction to lifeguards.

"I think they have a bad policy and place a burden on people with small children," Fuks said.

Linda Wieser, liaison for the La Leche League, told The Ann Arbor News that the situation is not uncommon.

"People assume there are laws to these things, but there really are not," she said.

Michigan exempts breast-feeding from its public nudity statute, but it does not protect a woman's right to breast-feed in public places.

The YMCA does allow breast-feeding in other areas where parents and children are permitted to be together, including the locker rooms and lobby.

Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

Terrell wrote:Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

I agree.

I used to wait tables and several times had women feeding in the middle of the dining room...I'm sorry but that is going to far as some find it disgusting while trying to enjoy their meal---and it hurt my tips.

On the other hand, why get upset at this mother taking care of her child? Honestly, I never understood why people are so uptight abotu breatfeeding.

OMG, you might see a boob!

gtalum wrote:On the other hand, why get upset at this mother taking care of her child? Honestly, I never understood why people are so uptight abotu breatfeeding.

OMG, you might see a boob!

it's not about seeing a boob. i mean seriously...at a restaurant? in the dining room????? and when i was a waiter and someone who only tipped me 10% after receiving impeccable service and grossing out my other 2 tables at the time disturbing their night out--i'm sorry but it ticks me off

it makes people uncomfortable and grosses out some to boot. i could understand if it was in an airplane where there is really no other place to go except maybe the lavatory. but if there are "designated areas" at the "Y" where this is permitted....

it would be like riding your bike/skateboard on a sidewalk at a shopping center where a sign says "No bikes/skateboards"

some people just want their 15 minutes i guess.

I burn up every time I read these stories. What is more natural and beautiful than a woman feeding her child. Its a woman's god given right to fullfill her role as a woman and feed her child. When society denigrates a woman's right to feed her child "anywhere" and "anytime" then something is wrong.

Terrell wrote:Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

Well, if your three year old is swimming, you might not want to leave him alone, and if the babys hungry, then feed him...

If the woman has the baby's blanket to cover up at least partially the milking area to be at least somewhat discreet in that way it would then be okay IMO.

Eric

That's just sick, especially for a young kid.

She should've at least gone somewhere else or hid in the corner while she was doing that.

Skywatch_NC wrote:If the woman has the baby's blanket to cover up at least partially the milking area to be at least somewhat discreet in that way it would then be okay IMO.

Eric

agreed! i was just saying that it is almost like some try to force it in your face....which to me is wrong.

for instance if i have to pass gas i am legally allowed to do it at a dining table or right in front of someone in line at the grocery store but common decency and humility (to some extent---not sayin that those breast-feeding need to be embarrased) have taught me not to flaunt my flatulence even though it is a natural process.

wxmann_91 wrote:That's just sick, especially for a young kid.

She should've at least gone somewhere else or hid in the corner while she was doing that.

Are you serious??!!! Really, when I breast feed my younger one, my older twins that were 4 at the time saw it all. It was a little uncomfortable at first, but I think there is no reason why they should not know how a baby is naturally feed. It is not a big deal. I told them it was her bottle. Don't children see dogs and other animals nursing their young? I mean this is the most natural and healthy thing that you can do for your infant. And I agree with brunota2003, if you have older ones swimming and baby is screaming to eat, you feed them, plain and simple. I don't want to see another womans breast either, but if I hear a baby screaming and see a woman holding them start to pull up her shirt I think I would look away and let her get the baby situated, and then 99% of the time they, including myself, put a blanket ontop of baby. It is people like you that make good mothers feel threatened in public, like they can not feed their babies. Like they can never leave their home. They need to be feed every 2 hours at least as infants. And yea if you have one kid maybe you could drop everything and go into a private room and do it. But when there is other kids involved it is hard to do that. And imagine feeding twins. I never left my house when they were nursing because there was no way to cover up with both hands full. I just think this whole thing at the Y went way too far.

brunota2003 wrote:

Terrell wrote:Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

Well, if your three year old is swimming, you might not want to leave him alone, and if the babys hungry, then feed him...

Call your 3yo, and have him get out of the pool and go with you.

Terrell wrote:

brunota2003 wrote:

Terrell wrote:Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

Well, if your three year old is swimming, you might not want to leave him alone, and if the babys hungry, then feed him...

Call his name and tell him he has to go with you.

You don't have any kids do you? A 3 year old may want to fight for 10 minutes before you can get them out of the pool. All the while you have a infant screaming on your hip. Very stressfull. So why not just let everyone be happy and feed the baby. If you don't like it, don't look.

O Town wrote:

Terrell wrote:

brunota2003 wrote:

Terrell wrote:Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

Well, if your three year old is swimming, you might not want to leave him alone, and if the babys hungry, then feed him...

Call his name and tell him he has to go with you.

You don't have any kids do you? A 3 year old may want to fight for 10 minutes before you can get them out of the pool. All the while you have a infant screaming on your hip. Very stressfull. So why not just let everyone be happy and feed the baby. If you don't like it, don't look.

You're the parent, your child has to do follow the rules you lay down, and you have to enforce them.

yea im a mother and i think you shouldnt be BFing a baby in front of the public period!!!!! Feed your baby before you go somewhere!

I know what your saying green13 I used to be a waitress for years and it is just not meant to be when you are in a public restaurant eating..........go to the bathroom or you car .... geez

yea i do think its okay to have a blanket to cover the baby.......but there are other ways to take care of your baby.......some people just dont PLAN AHEAD.....

arkess7 wrote:yea im a mother and i think you shouldnt be BFing a baby in front of the public period!!!!! Feed your baby before you go somewhere!

I know what your saying green13 I used to be a waitress for years and it is just not meant to be when you are in a public restaurant eating..........go to the bathroom or you car .... geez

yea i do think its okay to have a blanket to cover the baby.......but there are other ways to take care of your baby.......some people just dont PLAN AHEAD.....

Don't plan ahead?? You have a child. How often do things go "as planned"? Almost never. I can believe you just posted that.

Regarding BFing...I still remember when my parents sold Amway products back in the mid to late 1970s through early 1980s...anyway, one time at an Amway meeting at some friends' of our's house who were hosting it...the host couple had a newborn son and the mother was nursing him for a while during the meeting there in the living room where the meeting was held but no one thought anything about it...at least I didn't for one...since the woman had the baby's blanket covering up the area.

Eric

Terrell wrote:

O Town wrote:

Terrell wrote:

brunota2003 wrote:

Terrell wrote:Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

Well, if your three year old is swimming, you might not want to leave him alone, and if the babys hungry, then feed him...

Call his name and tell him he has to go with you.

You don't have any kids do you? A 3 year old may want to fight for 10 minutes before you can get them out of the pool. All the while you have a infant screaming on your hip. Very stressfull. So why not just let everyone be happy and feed the baby. If you don't like it, don't look.

You're the parent, your child has to do follow the rules you lay down, and you have to enforce them.

Yea thats what I said until I had kids. You will NEVER know till you are a parent. My kids do listen to what I say, but kids will be kids, thats the way it is. I am done defending this. I have said what I need to say.

greeng13 wrote:

Terrell wrote:Why not just walk to the locker room or lobby? Why does she have to insist on BFing by the pool when there are other areas where she could do so without any potential for confrontation? Why should there be an exception to the no food or drink around the pool rule?

I agree.

I used to wait tables and several times had women feeding in the middle of the dining room...I'm sorry but that is going to far as some find it disgusting while trying to enjoy their meal---and it hurt my tips.

Yeah, another good point. While I never waited tables myself, my sister did when she went to UCF and tips are VERY important to any waiter/waitress. Most waiters and waitresses get less than minimum wage from the restaurant they work for, it's the tips that allow them to make a living, more so than the salary.

Well I understand what your saying OTown..........sorry if I offended you........but I never breast feed my daughter.......and I dont have 3 kids either.........yes it is human nature.........and a good one at that.........where would all you men be without us women to give you life?

I still dont like the restaurant thing though......