DOVER, NH – A New Hampshire mom is speaking out for her right to breastfeed in public after a Walmart employee refused to develop photos of her doing just that, citing company policy.
For some, breast-feeding in public in is an extremely sensitive subject.
She posed in photos for the Big Latch On, a public breastfeeding event held in Dover as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
But when the photographer went to the Somersworth Walmart to get those photos developed, an employee took them from her.
Iris’s reaction?
“They were special pictures that I had taken by a great photographer to celebrate my journey through breast-feeding,” mother Iris Litteiro said.
Photographer Jennifer Luna had developed pictures them many times before, never expecting the employee’s reaction.
“He told me repeatedly it doesn’t matter the reasoning, It’s against company policy,” photographer Jennifer Luna said.
Litteiro said it wasn’t just for the events and for breastfeeding week, it was personal.
They were pictures to show her daughter when she grew up.
“I honestly am shocked by it. I mean, they were photos taken for me and to remember my journey,” Litteiro said.
All Iris said she wanted to do was celebrate the end of this chapter in her life, this particular bond with her daughter.
But now she said she hopes this might open some eyes in a positive way.
“I just hope that we can become more accepting and open to breastfeeding in public,” Litteiro said.
Another reason to have the photos taken? Litteiro said her goal was to nurse for six weeks.
Since she had made it to 14 months, she wanted to celebrate the family’s accomplishment.
Walmart says they have since apologized.
