A woman says she was shamed for openly breastfeeding her son in public at Disneyland earlier this month, and she took to Facebook to express her frustration.
The Orange County Register reported Friday that Brittni Medina was waiting in line to take a photo with her family at Disney California Adventure Park Nov. 18 when her son, Micah, became fussy. Medina, 24, says openly breastfed her 10-month-old and asked her husband to take a photo when she noticed some other parkgoers were critical of her nursing in public.
She posted the photo to a nursing mothers Facebook group.
"These ladies were so angry by it my husband just had to take a picture," Medina initially captioned the post Nov. 19. "Peep the haters."
“I was standing in a very long line to get our picture taken, my son got hungry and I wasn’t going to wait in another line again. So I took off my first top and nursed. These women were making snarky comments so I moved from my spot to catch a picture with these characters,” Medina said in an update to the post. “Not for attention for me but attention to the fact no women should be shamed for feeding their baby uncovered.”
The post and the accompanying photo, which appeared to show two women frowning behind the mother, gained a wide range of responses. Most on the group were supportive. Medina said her photo quickly spread in news stories across the world.
"Most of the articles have been positive," Medina told the publication, adding that others were critical and rude.
“I heard that it would be more acceptable if my breasts were smaller, but this is really about being able to go out in public,” she said. “I heard from moms who don’t even go out at all.”
The OCR reported that one of the women who said she was one of the onlookers in the photo responded on Facebook, saying she never noticed Medina was breastfeeding and that she and her friend were tired and hungry.
“We were never even talking about her,” the woman said, according to the publication, which said the woman’s identity could not be verified and that her Facebook page is no longer public.
Disney said the following in a statement to KNBC in response to reports on Medina's post.
“In accordance with California law, mothers are welcome to breastfeed children at Disneyland Resort, and we have two Baby Care Centers available in our theme parks as well, with additional amenities for parents of infants and toddlers.”
“According to California law, mothers are allowed to breastfeed anywhere in public,” Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown told The OCR.
Medina said that she does not like to use the private nursing rooms at the park because they are too crowded and that using a drape makes her son cranky and hot. Brown said she was not aware of overcrowding issues in the lounges.
"I decided to share this photo because it shouldn't matter what size you are or how much your little one tugs on your shirt. Women should be comfortable to feed uncovered like this anywhere, anytime," Medina told HuffPost UK Wednesday.
“Was it my intention for it to get this big? No, but yes, I’m proud of my confidence.”
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