Jennifer Mancuso, 38, from Ohio, faced criticism for the natural act, but hopes that by standing up for her rights she will help other mothers.
The professional photographer revealed she was tandem breastfeeding her twins Aria and Asher, 18 months, last summer when an employee asked her to relocate to the small, boxy staff room.
Jennifer was shocked at the request and said the staff room was no bigger than “wardrobe”.
The director informed her she had to nurse her daughters in a private space because some of the children were “school-aged” and it could be inappropriate for them to see.
The director also felt that it was best for Jennifer not to nurse in a public spot in case she offended any religious beliefs of other parents.
Jennifer, who has two other daughters – Parker, four and Piper, three – as well as three step-children, continued: “We went back and forth several times, but no one was backing down.
“I couldn’t immediately withdraw them and seek new childcare, but they needed nursing. So, I conceded and went to the break room.
“I literally scoffed out loud at her and shared it on my Instagram in disbelief.”
Jennifer was close to removing her daughters from the centre, until after three weeks of dispute she finally received an apology from the director.
Jennifer said: “She explained how sorry she was about her comments. She saw how negatively that could make a new or insecure breastfeeding mother feel and potentially ruin a journey.”
Staff at the nursery reviewed their policies to make sure the same situation never occurs again, and Jennifer has shared her experience to normalise breastfeeding so other mothers aren’t afraid of it.
She breastfed her two older girls until they weaned off, and is still nursing the twins.
She said: “It’s natural and frankly I don’t care if someone sees my breast, or a glimpse of my nipple doing what nature created it to do.
“Because of my schedule with the older two, it works best for me to breastfeed the twins at drop-off and pick-up.
“I am majorly pro-breastfeeding in public because that’s the only way it will ever become normalised.
“Breastfeeding is important on so many different levels for me. There are benefits that my babies receive from my breastmilk and there are so many health benefits that I also receive from breastfeeding, including reduced rates of multiple different types of cancer.
“I'm also very passionate about normalising it because I want to help other mums have the strength to see it through and not be afraid to breastfeed in public.”
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