To wonder what people really think about breastfeeding at a swimming pool?

[loveolives]

It seems to be coming up a lot in the news recently. Well, twice that I can think of. I breastfed my first child until 16 months and currently feeding my second at 7 months. I happily feed in public whenever and where ever, albeit discreetly. I took my daughter swimming during the week and couldn't imagine feeding her in the pool or at the poolside. AIBU to think that doing so may generate .. attention?

[Bubbles1066]

Thinking about it there are all kinds of weird rules about swimming pools that seem to lack reason. As a kid we were told not to eat for a few hours before swimming. What was that about? There seems to be a great aversion to eating and swimming pools in general. My local swimming pool has a sigh up saying spectators must not loiter. Um, isn't that the point of spectating? So remember it's OK to BF as a spectator as long as you don't loiter!

[2tiredtoScare]

You could walk up and down the viewing gallery whilst bfeeding so as not to be a loiterer

[Bubbles1066]

Ha, yes! The spectator area is now full of pacing women.

[5madthings]

lord you are aware that even if a woman doesn't bfeed in the pool there is probably bmilk in the pool anyway as lactating women often leak, I certainly did whilst swimming.


I am not bfeeding anymore, haven't for a few years but I have spent about ten years of my life bfeeding and I don't find it weird. I see it as something mothers do, its natural (tho doesn't always come naturally!) It just isn't something I give much thought to other than when I see people talking crap and spreading myths about bfeeding or trying to tell women where they should or shouldn't feed or that they should 'cover up' etc. Then I make a point of counteracting such bollocks.


As an aside my 14yr old read about this, nosey boy reading over my shoulder and he was like 'what is the problem, its a baby doing what babies do' he sees bfeeding as something normal.

But he has grown up with bfeeding, hell he has seen me give birth!

[5madthings]

bubbles my ds3 wasa fussy bfeeder and for months would only settle for a good feed if I was standing up sort of rocking or walking around, I was that pacing woman

[greenbananas]

I find it odd that people think they can plan when a baby is going to need breastfeeding. Maybe you might have an idea of when they are going to be hungry, but there are no guarantees.

As I said earlier on this thread, I would rather not breastfeed at a swimming pool, because I am not an exhibitionist by nature (is difficult to be discreet in a swimming costume) but of course the baby's needs always come first. I wouldn't hesitate to feed my baby if I had to.

As somebody said earlier, any argument about breastfeeding in swimming pools being unhygienic can be used to say that babies shouldn't be in swimming pools at all. Some pools are full of wee, and they are often too cold for tiny babies. My 11 month old baby's lips were blue after half an hour last week. However, babies have a right to be there, and sometimes need to be there (e.g. I took my baby because my 5 year old wanted to go swimming). Babies have the right to feed wherever they are, whenever they need feeding.

Babies don't eat in the same way we do. Their little tummies are tiny and they need topping up very frequently. Also, they may want to feed because they are tired, or just want comfort, and that's fair enough.

To me, this is a pointless argument. Nobody has the legal right to stop a mother breastfeeding her baby or toddler in any public place, so what's the point in being offended?

[greenbananas]

Oh, and LordPalmerston, it wasn't nuts, really it wasn't.

It's nuts that society and cultural expectations make you think it was nuts.

When you were "in it", you were simply responding to your baby's needs and ignoring any rubbish responses around you -which is excellent, so well done!

[NoComet]

Somewhere like Waterworld or Centre parks where older DCs will want to swim for ages I wouldn't bat an eyelid. local pool I'd go and sit in spectators.

DD2 has been fed loads of times in spectators, Or at least every Monday from birth to 18 months, while DD1 had her lesson.

[bigbrick]

bf is a normal part of parenting so no problems with bf at a pool.

[MrsMook]

For me it's about comfort. If it was a leisure style pool where you can sit without leaving the water then I would if the need arose. Where the DS's swimming lesson takes place, it's more practical to leave the pool and sit at the edge which I have done (although my more local pool is so drafty that that would probably result in hypothermia for two).

If I'm swimming lanes, then I'll take a bottle of water to drink like I would in the gym or any other fitness session. No eating or swimming on a full stomach doesn't apply to babies as they are not exerting themselves and swimming independently. A sensible choice of swimming costume like a halterneck is perfectly accessible and baby's head covers up adequately.

When the story come out a few months ago, I couldn't see why you'd want to, but after hearing various arguements and thinking about it, it can be a more practical option, and I could see myself doing it in particular circumstances if it was more favourable than alternative options.

[LordPalmerston]

Thanks for the praise

[Curioushorse]

So, what I always wonder here is, what was the woman wearing? Can't quite work out the logistics. You could easily end up exposing quite a lot of yourself if they don't do special bf swimming costumes.

(Bf as I type, so ALL about the logistics).

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

There are bf swimming costumes even if the women didn't have them I don't think anyone would really care, I have seen people flashing their arses and boobs in little more than 3 tiny triangles and a piece of string at our local pool and nobody bothers aside from a pang of jealousy from me.

[diddl]

I couldn't have done it as I'm short & my boobs & baby would probably have been too close to the water!

Depending on the pool it can also feel cold once shoulders are out!

[Quoteunquote]

I have never understood why people get hung up about babies feeding, it makes no sense, unless you have something wrong with you, such as not understanding what breasts are for.

Anyone who has ever had a baby, knows when they want feeding they want feeding, so you feed them.

Breasts are for feeding babies,

Any hang ups people have about breasts is entirly in their heads, they need to seek help if it bothers them, and adddress the reasons why they are so damaged , if they want to identify why they have warped views about breasts, they can, plenty of help out there, just ask.

Inflicting their bent sad ilogical thought processes on others is nasty, vile and unnecessary.

Anyone who thinks their failings and hangups should interfere with babies getting fed and be accommodated, needs to remove themselves from the presence of any feeding mothers, and seek help. Stay indoors until you have comprehended basic biology, and cause and effects.

Amazing, that people think their failings should still be accommodate,
If their parents failed to give them the correct information and teach them manners, they need to attend to that, not keep indtimadating mothers from feeding their babies.

[magicberry]

Well said greenbananas.
I wouldn't do it myself but would defend anyone else's right to do it. I accept that I wouldn't do it myself because I have (despite best efforts) been influenced by western society's crackpot view of breastfeeding.
I read recently (with fascination) the Politics of Breastfeeding by Gabrielle Palmer - what an eye opener!
I'd so much rather see a mum feeding her child than to hear same child screeching in distress.

[lunar1]

Not keen personally, and I fed my children out and about. When we go swimming my boys 5&2 like to spend their time jumping and splashing. I don't really want to have to tell them to stop because someone is feeding a baby in the pool. What on earth is so difficult about sitting on the side for how ever long the baby needs feeding for.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

I breastfeed DS on the side of the pool, now 7 years later he loves the pool and really confident around water.

Boobs leak in the water anyway.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

I don't really want to have to tell them to stop because someone is feeding a baby in the pool

I would stop my DC from jumping and splashing around a baby regardless if they was feeding or not. It's basic manners.

[fatlazymummy]

I would be amazed if I saw someone breastfeeding in a swimming pool. But then, to me, the clue is in the name. Swimming pools are for swimming in, not standing around breastfeeding. Perhaps it would be different if it was one of those leisure type kiddie pools, but then I've never been in one of them, so I can't really tell.
And no, I don't have hang ups about other women breastfeeding. It's just I've never come across anyone in real life who would actually want to do this.

[redshifter]

What greenbananas, quoteunquote and fortydoors said

[cjel]

Having a family of leisure centre managers and workers, I can tell you how many people are inconvenienced by babies sick in the water, The whole pool has to be evacuated for ages while it is clean, Its the same with people who don't use swim nappies 'because they never go at this time of day'

The objections have nothing to do with feeding.

[notanyanymore]

really cjel ? wow. i've never experienced anything like that, not even when I puked in the pool!

[5madthings]

cjel babies are often sick regardless of whether they have been fed recently or even fed in the pool. If you don't want to take that risk you would have to ban all babies from swimming.

Many swim teachers who do baby classes recomed feeding them in the pool.

I can see with a full on projectile vomit yes you wouldnhave to evacuate pool and clean, but a little bit of posset, probably happens loads and no one even notices.

[notanyanymore]

why is baby piss ok, but baby puke isn't? the piss leaks out of swim nappies, it only holds in the poo, and even then its touch and go as baby poo tends to pretty 'loose'.