Wilmington Woman Upset After Breastfeeding Request

A Wilmington woman took to social media Sunday night after she was asked to either cover up or go into another dining area to breastfeed her child at Big Fish Grille, The Daily Journal reports.

Kristal Snow Tomko wrote on her Facebook wall that she was very embarrassed by the situation.

“Went there today to celebrate my baby brother taking a tech job in Denver, and won’t be seeing him again for quite some time,” Tomko wrote. “We were seated and ordered and sure enough, my 6-month-old threw a tantrum and was ready to eat. Naturally, I began feeding my baby as I always do, everywhere. I breast feed. Really not ever been an issue. Until today.”

According to Tomko’s post, she was never asked to leave, but was asked to cover up or nurse in an empty dining room at the restaurant or in the restroom.

“I was made to feel embarrassed and shamed, as if I were doing something wrong. I went quietly and quickly to my van where I cried and nursed.”

The owner of Big Fish Grille said that he doesn’t see anything wrong with breastfeeding, but was responding to complaints from a few customers.

“Our request was made politely and with respect,” he said in his response to Tomko’s Facebook post. “The request was made quietly to you and your husband.” At no point did he ask the woman to leave or threaten to stop serving her and her six guests, Mathias said.