Stephanie Wilby said she felt humiliated when pool staff threatened to throw her out unless she stopped, and believes she should have the right to breastfeed wherever she chooses.
The 22-year-old was in the water from her waist down feeding her four-month-old son Leo in the corner of a toddler pool as other children and their parents splashed about
She said that ‘in a matter of seconds’ a lifeguard approached and told her she would have to stop immediately.
When Mrs Wilby, who was in the pool with husband Alan and 17-month-old daughter Harmonie, asked why, she claims she was told it was not hygienic.
She asked to speak to a manager, but they agreed with the lifeguard and said security would be called if she did not stop.
Mrs Wilby said she was then surrounded by pool staff threatening to throw her out unless she obeyed them.
She said one staff member told her breastfeeding in a pool was akin to a swimmer urinating in the water and also amounted to ‘indecent exposure’.
Bosses at the state-of-the-art Manchester Aquatics Centre, a training venue for last year’s Olympics and Paralympics, have apologised about the incident on Sunday afternoon.
Last night Mrs Wilby, who is on maternity leave from her customer service job at British Gas, said: ‘I should be allowed to breastfeed where I want.
‘As long as I do so tactfully and I am in within the law then I should not be harassed by people telling me to stop. I was humiliated and it was very distressing.
‘But the staff could not tell me under what law or rule I was being told to stop.
‘I even asked about feeding at the side of the pool but they said that was not allowed and said I should go to the changing rooms or toilet.
‘They made a real scene. They were saying me breastfeeding was indecent exposure but I was covered more than most of the other swimmers.
‘One staff member also said he would stop a man urinating in the pool and that is why they did not want me breastfeeding in the water.’
Mrs Wilby from Denton, Manchester, said she had only moved to the side of the toddlers’ pool for a few moments to feed her son.
‘It was just a matter of a few seconds but the response from staff was dreadful. The manner in which they treated me was aggressive and upsetting and caused me major embarrassment.
‘If they did not like it they could have asked me quietly to stop,’ she added.
‘I would have still questioned their reasons but it would not have been as inappropriate.’
Mrs Wilby, whose husband also works in customer service, added: ‘This was the worst possible customer service I have ever come across.’
The family have made an official complaint.
The aquatics centre, one of the largest in the country, is run by Serco and Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust, part of Manchester council, which is investigating.
The Equality Act 2010 has made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place such as a cafe, shop or public transport. It is not against the law to prevent a woman breastfeeding where there are legitimate health and safety risks.
Although restaurants and cafes generally do not have separate breastfeeding areas, some store chains such as Tesco and Boots do provide dedicated areas away from women’s toilets.
Other businesses have begun displaying stickers on windows telling mothers that breastfeeding is welcome on the premises.
Councillor Rosa Battle, executive member for culture and leisure at Manchester council, said: ‘We keenly encourage new mothers to use our leisure facilities and they have every right to breastfeed their babies when they need to do so, in line with existing legislation.
'We have also asked that the Trust and Serco review their existing policies, to make sure that they reflect the law.
‘As a breastfeeding mother myself, I expect staff contracted to work in our leisure facilities to understand and respect women’s right to breastfeed in public places.’
A spokesman for Serco said: ‘We are fully supportive of mothers breastfeeding their child whilst in our centres.
‘Serco’s operating practices are to encourage breastfeeding in a safe and comfortable environment for both the mother and child rather than it taking place in the swimming pool.
‘We will fully investigate this matter and where appropriate we will amend our policies and put in place appropriate training for staff.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience that was caused.
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