First-Time Mom Is Shamed For Breastfeeding In Restaurant, Speaks Out On Stigma Attached To Nursing Publicly

Dec 16, 2022 by apost team

Elizabeth Herzog is simply a mom doing the best that she can. In this story from 2017, Herzog's story about being asked to leave a restaurant after breastfeeding her baby in public went viral.

Despite the fact that it's legal to breastfeed in public in Iowa, where Herzog resides, the woman was met with unhospitable service from a Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews establishment in her early days of motherhood. Her story brought up a discussion about the limitations placed on women and breastfeeding in public.

Herzog's daughter, Georgia, was born prematurely at only 32 weeks. Weighing only 3.5 pounds at birth, Georgia had been in a fragile state of health after being born. So Herzog, a first-time mom, did not think anything of it when she brought the then-5-month-old baby to a restaurant in Iowa. While Herzog ate, Georgia became hungry, so the mom lifted her shirt to breastfeed her baby.

This was a normal occurrence for Herzog. However, that time was different. That time, she left the restaurant feeling ashamed and embarrassed. Because of Georgia's already fragile health, Herzog would breastfeed her baby without covering her head, leaving both of them somewhat exposed. Understandably, she wanted to keep her precious baby as comfortable as possible.

Herzog told local news station WQAD: "It doesn't seem like that big of a task but especially for her, I worry. I worry a lot if I can't see her face."

Although Herzog did everything correctly according to the law and with her baby's health in mind, her actions weren't understood by the restaurant staff.

Because Iowa permits a mother to breastfeed her infant in public, Herzog was shocked at the reaction that she received when she began to feed her infant. She certainly did not expect the manager of the restaurant to tap her on the shoulder and confront her. She told WQAD:

"I was sitting, breastfeeding her just like this, and the manager comes over, taps me on the shoulder and says, 'Hey, can you cover up a little bit?'"

Herzog felt embarrassed by the situation, so she decided to leave, but not before telling the manager that public breastfeeding is allowed in Iowa.

The mother opened up to reporters about her negative experience and contrasted it with the positive one she'd had at another local establishment, Ross' restaurant. Herzog said of her experience at Ross':

"They talk to me, they don't worry about the fact that I'm breastfeeding. They don't comment at all, or if they do it's 'Good job, you're doing great, keep it up.'"

Cynthia Ross-Freidhof, the owner of Ross' restaurant, confirmed their positive stance on breastfeeding in public: "We just want to support any mothers, wherever they are ... that (if) baby's hungry and that they take care of the baby."

While she knows about the stigma attached to breastfeeding in public, Herzog never believed that it would happen to her. Herzog said that she was simply doing what was best for her child. She told WQAD:

"I'm doing the best I can and I realize that to some people it might look a little weird and I realize that some people they might be shocked by it, but all I'm trying to do is nurse my infant."

Herzog believes that it is up to mothers like her to share their experiences to help break down the stigma associated with public nursing.

apost.com

It's terrible Elizabeth Herzog had to go through such poor treatment, but her message in breaking down the stigma associated with breastfeeding is an important one. What did you think of her story? Have you encountered similar experiences? If this story resonated with you, be sure to pass it on so others can hear about it too.