The medical community is attempting to normalize breastfeeding. Unfortunately, however, some breastfeeding mothers are still being shamed.
Earlier this month, a 24-year-old mother named Kymmie Snyder made headlines after calling out a hospital employee who did not like the fact that Kymmie was breastfeeding her son in public.
Kymmie was at the Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, waiting while her daughter underwent an outpatient procedure. While she was there, her 10-month-old son Kylo became hungry.
On a photo shared to the Breastfeeding Mama Talk Facebook group, Kymmie writes, “Per usual, this is how we looked.”
“My son has #CysticFibrosis, which is a genetic disease that affects his body in so many different ways. His pancreatic and digestive system are not the same as a normal, healthy baby. Resulting in him being hungry very often due to the malabsorption of nutrients. So we nurse, and we nurse A LOT.”
“There is NO skin showing, no nipple out, you honestly can’t even tell that I am #Breastfeeding if you were to look straight on.”
Despite the fact that Kymmie was more or less covered up, a hospital employee referred to as ‘Mrs. WILLIAMS’ in the post, walked up to the mother and threw a towel over her son’s head!
When the mother tried to tell the employee that what she was doing was illegal, the employee cited “hospital rules”. Kymmie has told news sources that when she approached hospital management about the issue, they were very nonchalant about the whole ordeal— a reaction which prompted her to share her experience online.
In addition to the Breastfeeding Mama Talk Facebook group, Kymmie also shared her story on an Instagram page dedicated to her son’s battle with cystic fibrosis, kylofights65. This time, however, it is written from his perspective.
Since sharing their experience, Kylo and Kymmie have been recieving an outpouring of online support.
Candler Hospital PR manager Scott Larson has told TODAY that the hospital employee is a retiree who only works a few hours a week. “[She] has been re-educated on our views regarding breastfeeding,” he says. “We have used this an opportunity to reiterate our strong support for breastfeeding mothers with our other co-workers.”
Way to go, Kymmie!
The world needs more breastfeeding mother confident enough to stand up for their rights.
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