Doctors shame breastfeeding mothers

Mothers simply trying to feed their babies in waiting rooms are copping flack from medical professionals.

Getty

One woman’s heartfelt story about being shamed while breastfeeding has sparked an outpouring of support on social media. The most shocking part? The main culprits were her medical professionals, including doctors and nurses.

‘I felt so awful.’

“I was in the waiting room of a community health centre waiting to see the lactation consultant as my baby was premature and I needed help when a worker there told me to stop feeding,” new mum Allison Crabb told the Courier Mail.

Other woman soon came forward to share their experiences of being shamed by doctors for feeding their babies. “My old GP made me go hide out the back in the staffroom when feeding my baby. I felt so awful. The laws are there but it’s really hard to speak up when you’re suffering severe post natal depression and your baby is sick and it’s the only doctor you know can see you,” one woman wrote on Facebook.

This raises serious concern among experts like Dr Robyn Thompson who works as a midwife and has a PhD focused on breastfeeding. She explained to the Courier Mail “These health workers need better education and to be aware that they are acting illegally. It is a baby’s right to breastfeed and a mother’s right to feed her baby.”

Parenting expert Pinky McKay also weighed in saying “it’s difficult enough for vulnerable new mothers learning how to breastfeed without the very people who should be supporting them telling them to cover up.”