Breastfeeding is a natural and essential way for a mother to nourish her baby. However, not all public places are supportive of this important act. In a recent incident at Rigby’s Water World, a water park in Georgia, a mother was asked to stop breastfeeding in the lazy river. The incident has left the mom shocked and upset, and she took to social media to share her experience.

The mother, Francis, shared that it all started with a comment from a male worker at the water park. At first, she thought it was a joke, but another woman approached her and reiterated the water park’s no-breastfeeding policy. Confused and disappointed, Francis, along with her children, got out of the pool to understand the situation better.

To her surprise, there was no mention of any policies regarding children, except for the requirement of swim diapers. Francis decided to speak to a manager, hoping for some clarification. However, she was met with a response that left her even more astonished. The manager said, “No food or drinks in the water.”

“I couldn’t believe it,” Francis wrote in her social media post. “Why worry about breast milk when the baby is latched and the milk is going into his mouth? It wasn’t about him eating in the water; it was about how it made other visitors feel.”

Francis expressed her anger and frustration at the treatment she received at Rigby’s Water World. She believes that other breastfeeding mothers should know about her experience. She also mentioned that she requested a refund for her season pass but was denied. Leaving the water park that day, she couldn’t help but feel deeply upset.

According to Georgia law, mothers are allowed to breastfeed their babies in any location where they are otherwise authorized to be. The National Conference of State Legislatures also affirms that breastfeeding is legal in all 50 states, including Georgia. In fact, 31 states do not consider nursing as public indecency.

Describing her attire at the water park, Francis pointed out that she was wearing a one-piece swimsuit, and her son’s head covered more of her breast than her suit did. She emphasized that her top revealed nothing and only allowed her son to feed comfortably.

Another factor that limited her options for breastfeeding elsewhere in the park was the overcrowding. Francis claims that there was hardly any suitable place for her to breastfeed in a private and comfortable setting.

Two days after the incident, Rigby’s Water World reached out to Francis. Steve Brown, the vice president of operations at the water park, called her to apologize. Brown stated that the water park had changed its breastfeeding policy and that staff members had received new legal education.

Brown clarified that in the past, Rigby’s had a policy that prohibited breastfeeding in the lazy river, aligning with the health department’s rule against eating or drinking in the pools. However, after reviewing the law and consulting other experts, the water park decided to allow nursing in the pools if the mothers wished to do so.

Brown admitted that the previous policy was misguided and offered his sincere apologies. He mentioned that Francis was always welcome to breastfeed on the pool deck, particularly in shaded areas and on lounge chairs. He also assured that Rigby’s Water World did not ask Francis to leave the park; she left voluntarily.

Unfortunately, Francis will not be given her seasonal pass back, according to the water park’s policy. However, Brown assured her that she was free to return to the park and nurse her baby wherever she pleased.

Despite the apology and invitation to return, Francis finds it difficult to imagine going back to Rigby’s Water World. She questions why she should compromise her rights and lay down while the water park broke the law. Moreover, she emphasizes that mothers are constantly shamed for breastfeeding, which makes this incident even more distressing.

Breastfeeding is a natural process that mothers should be able to engage in comfortably and without judgment. It is essential for society to support and protect the rights of breastfeeding mothers, ensuring that they feel respected and valued in all public spaces, including water parks.

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