The shock request from pool lifeguards that left an Aussie mum mortified

A shocked mother has been left shocked after lifeguards at a popular swimming pool asked her to stop breastfeeding her baby.

Layla Kalach fed her 14-month-old daughter at the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre in Sydney’s south last Thursday.

Mrs Kalach was sitting at the edge of the paddling pool, keeping an eye on her older child, who was playing in the water, when she was approached by two male lifeguards.

She was told not to breastfeed her child in public and had to stop.

“I thought, ‘What?’ I couldn’t believe it. I was so ashamed and shocked,” Ms. Kalach said. 9news.com.au.

‘So much was going through my mind. I thought for a moment, ‘Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s a pool thing.’

She felt ’embarrassed’ by the bizarre demand and left the pool shortly afterwards to dress her children.

Mrs Kalach then asked the front desk staff for an explanation and was told that the manager would contact her.

She later did some research and called the Australian Breastfeeding Association to ask if she had been treated unfairly.

Under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), it is illegal to treat someone unfairly because they are breastfeeding.

Women should also not be required to leave a building, institution or space such as a café to breastfeed their baby.

“I was furious. I thought we would be further along in society by now,” said Mrs. Kalach.

Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre is run by the leisure management company Bluefit

General Manager Brett McEwin stressed that the facilities Bluefit runs do not discriminate against mothers.

“The lifeguards were aware of the crowds and were concerned about safety while the nurse was feeding her baby at the poolside,” Mr McEwin said.

‘However, we recognise that the lifeguards’ involvement with Layla could have been better.’

Ms Kalach was sitting at the edge of the pool when two lifeguards approached her and ordered her to stop breastfeeding. Pictured is a pool at Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre

The general manager of the company running the aquatic centre (pictured) said lifeguards raised concerns about the safety of Ms Kalach who was breastfeeding her child

Mr McEwin also apologised for Ms Kalach’s experience and agreed that public facilities should show more respect for mothers who breastfeed their children.

Ms Kalach claimed she was not aware of the safety concerns raised during breastfeeding and that lifeguards had not raised these concerns.

She also spoke to BlueFit management and they said that staff at the centres run by the company would receive appropriate training on breastfeeding.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bluefit for further comment.