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Outrage As Mum's Breastfeeding Photo Of Tiny Premature Baby Is Removed From Facebook

A mum has slammed Facebook for removing a photo of the first time she breastfed her severely premature baby daughter - because it breached its strict nudity rules

A new mum was left astounded when Facebook deleted a picture she had posted of herself feeding her tiny premature baby, after an anonymous user reported it as 'offensive'.

Emma Bond's daughter Carene was born 12 weeks early and the 24-year-old and partner Ashley Kitchen, 30, were warned that she wouldn't survive. So when her baby breastfed for the first time, Emma uploaded a snap on the social network in celebration.

Emma Bond originally had her breastfeeding picture removed for nudity (SWN)
Emma Bond originally had her breastfeeding picture removed for nudity (SWN)

But  the young mum was told in a message from Facebook that it had removed the image "because it didn't follow the Facebook Community Standards regarding nudity."

The black and white photo then went viral after Emma uploaded it to a pro-breastfeeding group - where it attracted 166,000 'likes' and  22,000 “shares”.

But when other mums shared it to Facebook, they found their links were also deleted.

Emma's photo of Carene breastfeeding was reported by an anonymous user (SWN)
Emma's photo of Carene breastfeeding was reported by an anonymous user (SWN)

Carene was born prematurely on October 3 weighing just 2lbs 2oz.

Emma "Carene was born by emergency caesarean section. We were told to get the priest in, she wasn't meant to last past her third day.

"Premature babies are prone to bleeds on the brain and she had a bleed on her lungs also.

"She was born with an infection, she had a lot going on.

"We don't know the outcome of the brain damage but she is able to move and open her eyes and look around and feed which we were told would be unexpected.

"The original photo was only viewable by my friends and family who have followed my story.

"Everyone was aware it was touch and go so I was sharing the special moment with people to show them how far she had come.

"It was the first time she had breastfed so there was a reason for me posting that particular particular.

"It was a magical moment and to have it removed the same day for breaching nudity policies was really rubbing salts in the wounds.

"The picture represents more than just me breastfeeding my newborn baby. Carene is very poorly and we fought very hard to get to this point.

“I was upset when it was reported. It is something very natural and special and should be promoted.”

Emma in hospital with baby Carene (SWN)
Emma in hospital with baby Carene (SWN)

Emma and Ashley, who owns a children's soft play centre, are still travelling to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, every day to see baby Carene.

After receiving hundreds of complaints from angry mums, Facebook performed a U-turn and reinstated the tastefully-shot photo.

The full-time mum - who has received hundreds of messages of support from around the world - said she was pleased the social media giant had now updated their policy.

She added: "It's something very natural, very special, and something that should be promoted.

"The thing for me is that I see so many animal cruelty or beheading or child abuse images on Facebook and report them myself but nothing gets done.

"But something as precious and natural as this is removed instead.

"I know they have put the image back up but it shouldn't take thousands of people to make a stand for that to happen.

"I still haven't got an explanation or apology."

Emma with baby Carene and dad Ashley (SWN)
Emma with baby Carene and dad Ashley (SWN)

A spokesperson for Facebook said breastfeeding photos have never been against the firm's Community Standards, but nipples had to be covered or concealed.

In a message to Emma, Facebook said: "The image that you shared was removed in error - it has now been republished.

"The policy has been updated, Facebook modified the way it reviews reports of nudity to better examine the context of the photo or image.

"As a result of this, photos that show a nursing mothers' other breast will be allowed even if it is full exposed, as will mastectomy photos showing a fully exposed other breast."

[Baby born weighing less than 2lbs survives against all odds]
[Two children = happiness. Three, not so much]

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