Lucy Mecklenburgh hits out after she is criticised for breastfeeding in public

·Contributor

Updated 23 October 2020 at 7:39 am·2-min read

Lucy Mecklenburgh arriving for Cirque Du Soleil's Amaluna marking Cirque Du Soleil's 20th anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall, London. — Lucy Mecklenburgh (PA)

Lucy Mecklenburgh has hit back after finding herself on the receiving end of looks of “disgust” for breastfeeding her son in public.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star said she has become aware of getting some glances and hears the odd comment when she feeds her seven-month-old son Roman when she is out and about.

But she told her Instagram followers she “will not hide away or be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed” about it.

Watch: Lucy Mecklenburgh attends 'Mean Girls' event in London

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I’ve been getting a few looks lately while breast feeding in public. Hearing comments like ‘why wouldn’t she use a Muslin’ or an awkward glance of disgust. I think maybe as roman is quite big for his age wearing size 9-12month clothes some people think it’s unnecessary to breastfeed a baby of that age. For all those people please read this 👇🏼👇🏼 Medela website- -Breastfeeding After 6 Months Helps Baby Digest the New Solid Foods in Their Diet -While Breastfeeding, Baby is More Likely to Eat a Range of Flavoured Foods -Breastfeeding Helps Baby with Teething -Breastfeeding Also Provides Ongoing Protection During the months 6 -12 and beyond you’ve probably already realised that babies are much more active and will try to put everything in their mouth! Your breastmilk is still jam-packed with protection and antibodies, even after 6 months. And I’m sure you can imagine why they need this! Our bodies are super clever and have made it possible for our babies to safely explore their surroundings with all their senses, yet still be protected whilst they grow and taste almost everything! Some fascinating research showed that in a baby’s second year (12-23 months) 448 mL of breastmilk provides: 29% of energy requirements 43% of protein requirements 36% of calcium requirements 75% of vitamin A requirements 76% of folate requirements 94% of vitamin B12 requirements 60% of vitamin C requirements So you can see there are significant health benefits to both baby and you for continued breastfeeding way beyond 6 months and even further than 12 months. Most of those benefits will last a lifetime. @nhswebsite - Health benefits of breastfeeding for mum Breastfeeding and making breast milk also has health benefits for you. The more you breastfeed, the greater the benefits. Breastfeeding lowers your risk of: breast cancer ovarian cancer osteoporosis (weak bones) cardiovascular disease obesity I will not cover Roman with a Muslin the same as u won’t eat your pizza with a blanket over your head. I will not hide away or be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed for feeding my baby. #breastfeeding #breastfeeding7months #breastfeedingsupport #normalisebreastfeeding
A post shared by Lucy Mecklenburgh (@lucymeck1) on Oct 22, 2020 at 1:07pm PDT

Sharing a picture of her breastfeeding Roman, Mecklenburgh wrote: “I’ve been getting a few looks lately while breast feeding in public.

“Hearing comments like ‘why wouldn’t she use a Muslin’ or an awkward glance of disgust.

“I think maybe as Roman is quite big for his age wearing size 9-12month clothes some people think it’s unnecessary to breastfeed a baby of that age.”

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#ad My mind has been exploding with things to do recently 🤯 Having Roman means I have a million more things on my to-do list than normal, which is why I’ve teamed up with SMA®️ Baby Club as I’m loving their app for new and expectant parents, the Mother of all Checklists. It was a lifesaver for packing when we went on our holiday recently – long gone are the days where I would pack a day before 😅 It’s insane how much a tiny person needs! I love how you can customise the lists and also have a look at ones other mums have made for inspiration. It’s free to access and you can sign-in on any device, as it’s a web app. I’ve run through how I’m using the app on my stories and you can also access it here: https://apps.smababy.co.uk/mother-of-all-checklists/ @smababyclubuki #MotherOfAllChecklists #SMABabyClub
A post shared by Lucy Mecklenburgh (@lucymeck1) on Sep 25, 2020 at 5:29am PDT

The star, 29, then listed several health benefits that breastfeeding gives both babies and mums.

She concluded: “I will not cover Roman with a Muslin the same as u won’t eat your pizza with a blanket over your head.

“I will not hide away or be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed for feeding my baby.”

Mecklenburgh and former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas welcomed Roman, their first child together, in March this year.

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My little family ❤️ what happened to this lovely weather 😳😱😭
A post shared by Lucy Mecklenburgh (@lucymeck1) on Oct 2, 2020 at 3:55am PDT

The actor, who has a daughter named Scarlett with his ex Tina O’Brien, recently opened up about it being tough to adjust to parenting a baby during the coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking during an Q&A session on Instagram, Thomas said: "The hardest thing for us was not having any help or support within the house."

Watch: Lucy Mecklenburgh opens up about being a first time mum during pandemic