Mother says she was asked to leave church property for breastfeeding her child

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A Westfield mother says she was asked to leave Grace Community Church for breastfeeding her child during services. The new mom believes every parent should have the right to breastfeed, even in the house of the Lord.

Tayna Ogle claims she was sitting for 20 minutes before her seven-month old appeared to be hungry.

“The staff member came up to me and gave a few options: cover up, go to the bathroom (or) the nursery, or leave. Breastfeeding is not a sexual thing, women should not feel shamed or embarrassed to nurse where they need to,” said Ogle.

The church pastor declined an on-camera interview but did acknowledge over the phone that an incident did occur.

“If we see a mother nursing, we let them know the church provides nursing amenities,” said Melody Boyer at Grace Church.

Ogle did say she was told there were nursing amenities each week for the past couple of months.

A church representative provided this statement:

It is our pleasure to serve over 400 families each week at the Grace Care Center – providing food, financial counsel and other support to our congregation and local community. Mrs. Ogle has been a recipient of these efforts for the past four months. We are saddened the interaction with Mrs. Ogle escalated to the point of disruption for others at the Grace Care Center. In no way is our policy or historical pattern to ask a nursing mother to leave the premises. We not only welcome nursing mothers and their babies, but provide optional nursing amenities for the comfort of the mother and child.”