Breastfeeding in public has long been a contentious issue, with many women feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable doing so, despite it being a natural part of motherhood.
But what happens when you need to express milk in public? For Stephanie Booth, a mother from Swansea, it was a traumatic experience that she is now speaking out about.
On her first night out since giving birth to her eight-month-old daughter Freya, Stephanie found herself struggling to find a suitable place to use her breast pump. After discovering a horrendous queue for the women’s toilets, she was pleased to see a sign for overflow toilets in the venue. However, when she attempted to use them, she was told they were for staff only.
Stephanie explained her situation to the bar manager, hoping to find a solution, but was met with little sympathy. She was told to either pump by the bar or leave, leaving her feeling helpless and frustrated. Eventually, she was forced to wait in line and use a cubicle for 20 minutes while other women banged on the door, urging her to hurry up.
