In a recent incident, Rachael Bews, a breastfeeding mother and head of a marketing firm, was barred from attending a business course organized by Amazon due to the company's policy against allowing children on site. This occurred on July 7, 2026, at an Amazon warehouse in Dunfermline, Scotland. Bews informed Amazon a week prior that she would need to bring her 20-week-old baby as she was breastfeeding.
On her way to the event, Bews received a phone call stating that children under six were not permitted on the premises. Amazon later issued an apology, stating, "We sincerely apologise to Ms Bews that our site access policy was not communicated clearly before she travelled." The company emphasized that this is a long-standing health and safety policy applicable to all visitors.
Amazon's Health and Safety Policy
Amazon's policy prohibits children under the age of six from entering their fulfillment centers. The company explained, "This should not have happened, and we understand her frustration. We are reviewing our communications process to prevent this from happening again." Despite the availability of a lactation room at the event, Bews was not prepared to express milk, lacking sterilized bottles and equipment.
Challenges for Working Mothers
Bews highlighted the need for better accessibility and inclusivity for breastfeeding mothers in professional settings. She stated, "It's a challenging thing becoming a new mum, and being in business is a big part of my identity, so having access to these same opportunities is really important for me and a lot of other working and professional mums out there." She expressed disappointment over missing crucial face-to-face networking opportunities.
Returning to Work While Breastfeeding
For mothers returning to work, the NHS advises informing employers about breastfeeding before returning. According to their guidelines, "If you’re returning to work, education, or training after having a baby, you might wonder whether you can continue breastfeeding your baby. The answer is yes, it’s completely possible and many women do it." Bews is now left to continue with the online portion of the six-week course, but she believes the in-person connections were invaluable.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by BBC Business. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
