In a heartwarming yet frustrating tale, a mother is receiving support from fellow moms everywhere for her bold stand on breastfeeding rights. Meet Jenna Carter, a mother who recently made waves for her public protest after a hotel refused to provide her with a suitable place to pump breast milk. While attending a conference at an Embassy Suites hotel in San Francisco, Carter found herself in need of a pumping space and approached the front desk for assistance. To her dismay, she was told to head to the restroom.
In a passionate Facebook post, she expressed her outrage, stating, “Seriously? No! You wouldn’t eat in the bathroom, so why should I be expected to pump milk for my baby there?” When she requested to use an empty hotel room, she encountered further resistance, with staff claiming she couldn’t use a room because “she didn’t book it.” Never mind that she had actually paid for the seminar, making her a customer deserving of accommodations. When Carter pointed this out, the staff insisted, “We’re fully booked; there are no rooms available.”
Undeterred, Carter even asked for access to an office, but was informed that only the general manager had one, and access was off-limits. It’s not as if she was attempting something outrageous; she simply needed to provide nourishment for her child. Eventually, she was allowed to pump in the wine cellar, but instead of taking that route, she boldly set up in the lobby. With a big smile, she snapped a photo of herself pumping, breast milk pooling in the bottles beside her. Talk about a powerful statement! She also filed a complaint with the general manager.
Following the incident, the hotel’s GM issued an apology, attributing the situation to insufficiently trained staff. It’s crucial to note that, while breastfeeding in public is protected in many places, there are few laws ensuring mothers have access to reasonable accommodations for pumping outside their homes or designated workplaces. It seems ludicrous that such rights need legal protection; this should be common sense. Carter’s stand is a small step toward highlighting the challenges mothers face.
Since her post went viral, Jenna has been flooded with messages of support from mothers globally. In her response, she encouraged moms to know their rights, stating, “Don’t mess with a mama who understands her rights and has experience.” She closed her post with an empowering, “Pump on!”
In conclusion, Jenna Carter’s experience sheds light on the ongoing need for awareness surrounding breastfeeding rights and the necessity for adequate accommodations for nursing mothers.
If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination and related topics, check out our other blog posts here. For couples on their fertility journey, Make a Mom provides excellent insights. Additionally, if you’re curious about IUI success rates, WebMD offers valuable resources.