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AIBU?

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Original poster

I did not breastfeeed either of my children, but I was shocked!

104 replies

Caff2 · 31/10/2013 20:47

A lady breastfed her daughter by the side of a swimming pool, and was told it was offensive by an employee. So far, so rubbish, from one employee, but the comments in the newspaper in question run to hundreds talking about public breast feeding being "wrong", "unnatural" and even "arousing"!!!

Okay, it was the Daily Mail, but really? People think like this?

OP posts:
Strumpetron · 31/10/2013 21:23

1 in 5 people pee in the pool. Yack.

notundermyfoof · 31/10/2013 21:23

Some people are just fucking twats, especially those who comnent in the daily fail! Breasts leak in pools regardless of whether the baby is being fed at that moment ime and babies puke whether or not they have just been fed. I have fed in a swimming pool before without issue but I guess I was just lucky the lifeguard didn't see me!

Btw there was a similar story in the news a few months ago but this happened just a few days ago, the mother is a midwife and daughter of Virginia Howes (independent midwife from a few tv programmes) and to say they are angry is an understatement!

MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 31/10/2013 21:23

I would do Hmm face if someone bottlefed their baby in a pool so in the spirit of equality, id do it for BFing too. I mean literally in the pool.

Out on the side, whatever.

Mia4 · 31/10/2013 21:27

Strumpetron that's why they have the shaming dye now, for the secret pee-ers who grim up the pool. Shame not all pools use it.

notanyanymore · 31/10/2013 21:28

Anyone whose concerned that swimming in a pool in which a baby has been breastfed may be 'a health and safety risk' really shouldn't go in public pools (trust me, my baby wee's in the pool, my niece shat in one once and dd has puked at least once. Oh and I should think my breasts have leaked more then once! Shock ) or go round the bloody adult side! (Unless my grandma's in it, she's a right piddler!)

Kernowgal · 31/10/2013 21:39

Imagine the people filling up the pool, "whoa steve, don't fill it to the top, you've got to allow 10% for all the piss"

Thank you for a much-needed chortle Grin

katese11 · 31/10/2013 21:41

I just get a bit [sceptical] when the same situations keep getting huge amounts of media attention, esp when the story has been changed and when your mother is a high profile midwife. I'm a proud bfeeder of a 17mo but if I was to bfeed in the swimming pool I'd be more than aware that it could get me into the papers. .. so I choose not to. As I said, I'm a little cynical. ...

Mia4 · 31/10/2013 21:42

Damn DP has just pointed out the coloured dye is an urban legend, there goes ever getting my younger sister in a pool again.

tiredandtiredandtired · 31/10/2013 21:43

The lifeguard said she was so offended she couldn't do her job. All the health and safety stuff was spouted by the manager when the mother complained. The manager dug a deep, deep hole that they are trying to cover up

Bigfingers · 31/10/2013 21:50

BF-ed all three of mine and agree with the general principle of anywhere/anytime, but I never, ever felt the need to BF in a pool. Bit of planning, quick top up in the changing room before going swimming, and all the chemicals/other people's bodily secretions floating around you - does seem a bit of a weird one to me...

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 31/10/2013 21:58

I bf DS2 at a swim up bar on holiday. Is that okay?

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 31/10/2013 21:59

And if so, which bit makes it okay?

Original poster
Caff2 · 31/10/2013 22:01

It was the comments really that we're shocking.

OP posts:
Original poster
Caff2 · 31/10/2013 22:01

Were, not we're.

OP posts:
Strumpetron · 31/10/2013 22:01

She breast fed in the pool, which isn't okay IMO.
A swim up bar is the same, same chemicals on your skin etc. I suppose it could be argued its 'okay' because people are drinking there but not in my eyes...

PoopMonster · 31/10/2013 22:04

How bizarre - I guess she'd have to have been standing up in the pool then? I can feed standing up (eg to answer the phone, give a toddler something) but it's not my chosen posture for an entire feed...I'd have to be making a point of it or something.

Plus don't you get out of the pool to do most non-swimming things, like putting on more sun cream or combing your hair?

Sounds like she was being deliberately provocative, even if the situation wasn't handled well by the pool staff.

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 31/10/2013 22:04

Okay back to the OP, yanbu to disagree with the comments, but yabu to be surprised Grin

Salmotrutta · 31/10/2013 22:06

What is a swim up bar?

(disclaimer: I haven't been within 100 miles of a swimming pool for about 30 years)

Wishfulmakeupping · 31/10/2013 22:06

I'm happy to feed anywhere anytime but I draw the line at feeding in a swimming pool- I just don't understand this

Salmotrutta · 31/10/2013 22:07

Oh - and a diagram would be helpful in the explanation of what a "swim up bar" is.

I'm a visual learner, me.

katese11 · 31/10/2013 22:08

Hmmm. ..now I'm fantasising about a swim-up bar. .. though my children don't feature in this scenario. ..

Wishfulmakeupping · 31/10/2013 22:08

OP there have been a couple of bf stories in DM recently and the comments were truly mind-boggling people are so offended by breastfeeding like genuinely affected- very Shock

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 31/10/2013 22:08

swim up bar

PoopMonster · 31/10/2013 22:10

Yes OP that is shocking about the comments - I think it points to a huge amount of people who have never knowingly been anywhere near a breastfeeding lady...and therefore the importance of getting more ladies breastfeeding in public.

Salmotrutta · 31/10/2013 22:10

And I have another more pressing question.

Well two really...

A) Why does anyone read The Daily Mail?

B) Why would you even bother to read the comments posted by the sort of person who does read the Daily Mail?