Amazon bans nursing mothers from the business course

A breastfeeding boss has been banned from a business course offered by online retailer Amazon for not allowing her daughter to visit the site.

Rachel Bews said a week before the in-person event at Amazon’s warehouse in Dunfermline, Scotland, Amazon informed her she had to breastfeed her 20-week-old baby.

However, she said children under the age of six were told over the phone on the train not to be present.

Amazon said: “We sincerely apologize that our website access policy was not clearly communicated to Ms Bews prior to her travel.”

“That shouldn’t have happened and we understand her frustration. Amazon does not allow children under the age of six at any of our fulfillment center locations,” the retailer added.

“This is a long-standing health and safety policy that applies to all visitors and staff… We are reviewing our communication process to prevent this from happening again.”

Bews told BBC The World Tonight that there was a lactation room at the event on Friday that allowed her to give milk to her baby.

But she hadn’t planned for it, so she didn’t have any sterile bottles or expression tools. She added that not every breastfeeder is fed from a bottle.

“All events have to have really good consideration for accessibility and inclusion for all kinds of issues,” she says.

“Being a new mom is challenging, and being in business is a big part of who I am, so having these same opportunities is so important to me and so many other working and professional moms.”

She said she was told she could continue the six-week course online, but she missed “the most important stuff”.

“The people you make over coffee, meet in person, meet at lunch — there are connections that I can make to maybe help my business,” she added.

For those returning to work who wish to breastfeed; The NHS advises., External Telling your employer you are breastfeeding before your first day.

It says: “If you’re going back to work, school or training after having a baby, you may wonder if you can continue to breastfeed your baby.

“The answer is yes, it’s totally possible and many women do it.”