After being ordered to breastfeed in a swimming pool, a woman claimed she felt humiliated.
Sarah Lappin had just completed a parent and toddler swimming session at Rhyl, Denbighshire's pool when she started feeding Kalel, her five-month-old boy.
A lifeguard asked her to leave the pool, even though she was allowed to breastfeed in public.
Rhyl Leisure Centre bosses apologized for offending.
Ms Lappin, a Keen swimmer, claimed she had breastfed all five children in the same swimming pool. She was shocked when the lifeguard told her to stop.
Ms. Lappin continued to feed Kalel because she believed "there's no such thing".
She said, "He whistled at my again and said that I would have to leave if he continued breastfeeding in the pool."
"I kept my cool and said that he won't stop once he's on. Everyone was now looking."
Ms. Lappin filed a complaint against the deputy manager, who she claimed told her that she would talk to the lifeguard.
She stated, "I felt so humiliated. I am proud to be a breastfeeding mother. I have been doing this for nearly a decade with five children.
"I have never seen such negative behavior towards a mother who is breastfeeding her baby."
She was concerned that some mothers might have lost their confidence by being treated in this manner.
She said that there are some who believe it's nudity or should be done in privacy or covered with blankets or in a nursing room.
It is wrong to assume that a mother must hide in order to do something perfectly natural. As mothers, we have the right to feed our children wherever they want. It's not only a food source, but also their comfort and safety.
She dismissed concerns that breastfeeding in a swimming pool could pose a health risk.
Denbighshire Leisure runs Rhyl Leisure Centre.
A spokesperson said that while we don't prohibit anyone from breastfeeding in our facilities but this time the breastfeeding was happening in the water.
Due to divergent views regarding the health risks and the increased risk of vomiting in the water, it is not clear whether a baby should be allowed to drink the water. This would lead to the pool being closed.
They stated that they would seek the advice of health professionals and make any necessary changes.
The spokesman stated that they apologise to anyone who may have been offended.
