A Texas mother says World Springs, a hot springs and wellness center in Dallas, told her she could not pump breastmilk while on the property during a visit with her husband. She shared the experience in a TikTok video that has since gone viral, drawing thousands of comments from viewers who call the facility’s response both wrong and potentially illegal.
The woman, who goes by Emily on TikTok (@emilylopezzzz), said she and her husband had planned the trip to World Springs to celebrate their anniversary and her birthday. She brought her breast pump and a small container of breastmilk, as she is currently pumping for her newborn baby at home.
A young staff member noticed the breastmilk while checking her bag and told her, “You can’t bring liquid in here.” Emily explained it was breastmilk, but the employee repeated that no liquids were allowed and went to get a manager, as reported by The Nerd Stash.
World Springs’ own FAQ states guests are allowed to pump anywhere on the property
Emily said the manager, whom she described as a young man in his early twenties, came out and told her in what she called a rude tone, “You cannot bring that in here.” She said she was “fully taken aback” by how the situation was being handled, having expected the manager to clear up the misunderstanding. The manager told her she would have to leave her breastmilk in her car, which concerned her given the outside temperature was around 95 degrees.
The two eventually reached a compromise, with staff agreeing to store her breastmilk in a refrigerator behind the front counter. But when she asked what she should do when she needed to pump during the visit, the manager told her, “You can’t pump in here.” When she pushed back and asked what she was supposed to do, he told her she would have to leave the property and pump in her car. Breastfeeding and pumping mothers have gone viral in relatable parenting moments before, though Emily’s situation drew attention for a very different reason.
Emily said she was “speechless” and told the manager she had been able to bring her breast pump to the Dallas Airport without issue. The manager confirmed she would not be permitted to pump anywhere on World Springs’ property. She said in her video, “You’re telling me I can bring my breast milk to the Dallas Airport, but I can’t bring it into World Springs,” to which she claims the manager responded, “Yes, ma’am.”
Her husband walked the breastmilk back to the car, but Emily said it was lost because the heat inside the vehicle made it unsafe. Despite being told she could not pump on the property, she brought her pump inside anyway and pumped in a bathroom, ultimately pouring the milk down the toilet because she did not know what else to do. She said she ended up crying during part of their massage and that the situation “ruined that part of the trip.” She closed her video by asking viewers, “It’s 2026. Am I crazy?”
The video drew a significant response in the comments. One commenter quipped, “I’d be like, so can I bring my breasts in or no?” Another wrote, “This is ILLEGAL in Texas BTW. You need to call corporate.” A user going by ADHDlandia urged Emily not to engage with World Springs without legal representation, writing, “Please Emily, do NOT communicate with them AT ALL without an attorney. And do NOT sign or accept any terms from them. Many attorneys here are asking to represent you bc they know they’ll win. And this isn’t just about you. It’s about ALL women.”
A CBS News Texas reporter also left a comment on the video asking Emily to share her story with the outlet. Texas has seen other cases of mothers facing legal trouble involving their children make headlines in recent months.
Several commenters pointed to World Springs’ own website FAQ, which states, “WorldSprings welcomes guests who need to pump during their visit. Guests may pump in any area of the property where they feel comfortable.” The FAQ also notes the facility offers a dedicated lockable lactation room and refrigerated storage for expressed milk within their locker room facilities. World Springs had not publicly responded to Emily’s account as of the time of this writing.
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