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A LAVINGTON mother who was asked to cover-up while breastfeeding at a Wodonga cafe is hoping to create awareness among businesses and the community.
Sacha Knobel said she felt ashamed and embarrassed after a manager at Cafe Grove asked if she would use a cloth cover while feeding her four-month old son, Eli, who was feeding.
Alternatively the manager, Trevor Broadbent, suggested she could move to a private room at the cafe.
Although the manager told her he had nothing against breast feeding personally, Mrs Knobel claimed he'd had complaints from other patrons and was trying to make everyone happy.
“I walked outside and fell apart, I sobbed in the car the whole way home,” she said.
“It felt like I'd been in trouble for doing something wrong – how can it be wrong?
“It really hurt and I felt a lot of shame.
“I wasn’t able to breastfeed my first child and the emotions that came with that were just awful.
“So to be able to breastfeed Eli is an amazing experience.
“I always see breastfeeding mums and I think it is so empowering.”
The incident was subsequently posted on social media and the cafe owners made a public apology and phoned the family involved.
Mr Broadbent said his decision to make the suggestions to Mrs Knobel was through a lack of knowledge of the rights and needs of nursing mothers.
He has since contacted the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
He, too, said he would like to raise awareness among the business community about how they could support mothers.
“We are genuine people who made a mistake in the handling of a sensitive situation,” he said.
“Our family and staff are committed to knowing, understanding and supporting the needs and rights of breastfeeding mothers so we can ensure this never happens again.”
Mrs Knobel said she did not wish to “shame” the cafe, but wanted to start a conversation in the community so breastfeeding mothers would feel supported and accepted.
“I've read other women's stories since, I feel sorry for them and want them to know there is a hotline they can call,” she said.
“I also want businesses to take time to educate themselves about the Sex Discrimination Act which outlines laws surrounding breastfeeding in public.”
Mothers who need breastfeeding support should contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association Hotline on 1800 686 268.