Breast-feeding mum Amy Holkham told to quit at Tesco in Sheerness
Amy Holkham, with Archie,
was asked not to breast-feed at the Tesco cafe
by Emma Grove
A mother has spoken of her embarrassment after being
confronted in a packed cafe for breast-feeding her son.
Amy Holkham was approached while she was having breakfast in
Tesco's Sheerness store by a man who took exception to the
fact she was subtly feeding five-week-old Archie.
She has praised staff at the Bridge Road supermarket, who
eventually asked the man to leave.
The 27-year-old was there with her two-year-old daughter Brianne
and had put a blanket over her shoulder to cover herself and her
son while she fed him.
After a couple of minutes, she was approached by the man who
asked what she was doing 'because he was having his breakfast'.
Mrs Holkham, of Edenbridge Drive, Sheerness, said he then
decided to quite loudly make a complaint to cafe staff and asked
why should she be getting her breasts out.
"He said 'isn't there somewhere I can go'," she added.
"He went
round every customer in the cafe and told them what I was
doing.
"I was very uncomfortable and it was quite embarrassing to be
honest.
"But I'm quite a stubborn person so I just sat there and carried
on – it's made me more determined.
"I wasn't going to be bullied off – that would have left baby
screaming, which is worse."
The mother-of-four said there was a customer who stuck up for
her, saying to the man he wouldn't complain if a woman in a bikini
or low-cut top came in.
Mrs Holkham, who is as a breast-feeding peer support worker at
Seashells Children and Families' Centre in Sheerness, thanked Tesco
staff for sorting the situation out.
She said if she could speak to the man now she would like to
give him information about breast-feeding as he was obviously
'clueless'.
Family outreach coordinator at Seashells Kim Green said: "It was
an unfortunate incident and we are delighted Tesco acted
appropriately to support Amy and Archie.
"It is important for mums to be aware they are protected by the
Equality Act 2010 and cannot be discriminated against for feeding
their babies in public.
"Seashells works to encourage breast feeding because of the
enormous health benefits, bonding experience and financial
advantage it provides."
- For more information on the support offered at Seashells, phone
01795 667070 or pop in.
12/03/13
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