Swimming and breastfeeding - not at the same time :)

[MadMonkeys]

This is probably a silly question... I had a lot of problems with breastfeeding for the first few months including several bouts of mastitis. Dd2 is now 10 months and it is very important to me that I continue breastfeeding - I love it, buy more importantly dd2 is allergic to cows milk so nutritionally breastfeeding is very important.

My question is would swimming in public swimming baths be likely to cause mastitis? Presumably bugs can get in the same way milk comes out? I don't want mastitis, it made me so poorly last time. I know swimming pools are chlorinated but is infection likely? Anyone become infected and suspected swimming was the cause? I'd love to take dd1 swimming and dd2 - I can go with a friend but it would need both of us in the water to look after both dds.

[tiktok]

Never heard of this as a risk factor, MadMonkeys. Breasts can be infected from the outside in, though very rarely - the culprit is a bug from the baby's nose when the baby has an upper respiratory tract infection. Swimming should be absolutely fine :)

[MadMonkeys]

Thanks ladies, I think I'll give it a go...