These Moorhead Moms Give Us Their Whole Story on Public Breastfeeding

Some moms in Moorhead are not ashamed of showing their breasts.

One woman was openly breastfeeding at the pool and was told to cover up.

Moorhead Mayor Del Ray Williams came out to support Kayla Heller before entering the pool where she was told to cover up yesterday while breastfeeding her baby, even though you are allowed to in Minnesota.

“At the time I was watching all four of the children so I was like okay,” said Heller.

Her friend heard what happened and took to social media and called on moms to come out to the pool and display their right to breastfeed openly in a public place.

“It’s neat to have a bunch of women come out and support each other and regardless if you formula feed or breastfeed you made your choice so stick by it.”

Some people say it’s okay to public breastfeed but be courteous.

Beth Brantner said, “As long as we can be respect towards everybody, that’s the way to get along. Respectful to the baby, the child needs to eat, respectful to mom but respectful to the bystanders too.”

Breastfeeding in places like the pool may not be the norm in the United States but it is in other places.

Bertha Vasquez said, “You can breastfeed anywhere… restaurants, buses, anything that is public.”

Coming from Peru, it’s not a big deal to breastfeed in front of strangers.

“No one is going to stare at you even when someone sees you just taking out your breasts they just look away,” says Vasquez.

Overall, today was a success for Heller, but she doesn’t want an apology.

“It’s not going to change how I feel, it’s not going to change how maybe she feels and she’s entitled to her opinion. It was a matter of maybe not saying it,” said Heller.

The staff member was corrected for her mistake since there were no rules for covering up.

South Dakota is one of the three states that does not fully protect moms who breastfeed in public.