Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you shouldn't breastfeed in a swimming pool

539 replies

HappierThanEverBefore · 28/05/2014 20:13

Went swimming today & as I was walking to the steps there was a lady sitting on them breastfeeding.

I carried on as if nothing was wrong but the mentioned it to the life guard as I walked out. The lady looked disgusted that she was told to stop or carry on else where

AIBU to think it's wrong to breastfeed in the swimming pool

OP posts:
ILoveCoreyHaim · 28/05/2014 20:26

Ugh saying that when they are in pool it's going in their out so IDK. Just seems strange to feed there and a bit icky which thinking more about it its probably notConfused

ILoveCoreyHaim · 28/05/2014 20:27

In their mouth *

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 28/05/2014 20:27

YABU, I wouldnt have even given it a second glance, did she have other children in the pool?

whois · 28/05/2014 20:27

Well, her legs were still in the pool. Maybe when you breast feed something rancid squirts out of your little toe?

I don't really see the problem here. Access wasn't blocked. Boob and baby were out of the water. Were you worried about milk dropping into the pool? There is much yuck-iness in pools anyway and chlorine to kill it so it's not like a tiny bit of milk would do much harm.

Wolfiefan · 28/05/2014 20:27

I wouldn't feed in a pool (mainly as I couldn't get comfortable, would worry about dropping baby or milky vomit!!)
Sitting on the steps? Why not?

Meanderdeander · 28/05/2014 20:28

It's a bit odd to say you are for bf in public but you've made a complaint about someone doing just that. Sorry but you've joined the ranks of the bigots.

Icimoi · 28/05/2014 20:28

What does it matter if people were staring? Don't you think it's actually a good thing for children to see a baby being fed naturally? If the guard told her to stop, he was breaking the law.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 28/05/2014 20:28

What's the problem here?
Children seeing boob - not a problem
Breast milk in the vicinity of the swimming pool - not a problem
No, really not seeing it.

Charlieboo30 · 28/05/2014 20:28

I was a bit hmm about this and I personally wouldn't want to do it. Each to their own. I don't think the changing room is ideal - I wouldn't want to eat my lunch in there TBH so don't see why a baby should have to!

DP and I were in a restaurant a couple of years ago and a woman asked if they had anywhere quiet she could breastfeed her baby. They took her off and I saw her later...when I was heading to the loo. They had sat her on a chair, in the corridor. I was infuriated!

ICanSeeTheSun · 28/05/2014 20:29

I think more children should be exposed to breastfeeding.

It's not like she was giving a toddler a picnic by the pool, breastfeeding is more than just food. It provides comfort and calming effect.

KoalaFace · 28/05/2014 20:30

You have your own boundaries and if you feel uncomfortable seeing a baby being breastfed sort of in a pool then that's how you feel.

But YWB massively U to complain to the lifeguard.

Icimoi · 28/05/2014 20:30

So, if she was two feet higher up and out of the water you would have been fine with it, despite the fact that she would have been even more visible and people would probably have been staring even more? What difference could it possibly make that part of her was in the water?

TheScience · 28/05/2014 20:31

I don't really see the problem.

Her nipple was in the baby's mouth, so you're not really seeing anymore than you would with a bikini. And even if you do get a flash of nip, who cares?

The water is already swimming with all kinds of bodily fluids, so it's not a hygiene issue.

Breastfeeding waist deep in the water vs. breastfeeding on the poolside, what's the difference?

bemybebe · 28/05/2014 20:32
Honeybear30 · 28/05/2014 20:33

This was definitely in the daily mail recently and generated a lot of controversy. I think YABU. Don't see the difference whether in or out of the pool.

StudyFullTime · 28/05/2014 20:33

YABU and it's this sort of attitude that stops people from breastfeeding. It is totally natural and if she was comfortable bf on the steps then it's you that has the problem.

Eminybob · 28/05/2014 20:34

Btw were you expecting anyone to come on here and wholeheartedly agree with you? And if so can I take it this is your first time on mumsnet? (Can't be arsed to do a search)

Billygoats · 28/05/2014 20:34

I'm not sure I would have been too fussed but still find it odd. You don't see people with bottles of formula at the side of the pool, there seems to e very different rules for the two.

5madthings · 28/05/2014 20:34

Yabu and this has been discussed many times before.

Water won't go in the babies mouth whilst it's feeding as the latch creates a seal.

The baby is more likely to get water in its mouth when it's not feeding.

The breast milk will prob go in the water either way as lactating boobs leak sometimes.

Its a non issue.

The analytical Amarillo has written good piece on this, Google it.

Namelessonsie · 28/05/2014 20:35

I also think it's good for children to see breastfeeding. Helps normalise it. And it would be good to see more older children breastfed out and about as well instead if mothers feeling ashamed and on,y feeding at home after some arbitrary age.

My babies always got a bit milk crazy by all the skin to skin when swimming but I was never brave enough to feed poolside - always went and shivered in a cubicle before returning to the pool. Much better to keep yourself warm if possible and keep the baby out of the water for as short a time as possible.

Feenie · 28/05/2014 20:36

it just made me feel uncomfy & like there was something wrong about it.

Entirely your issue. And a very strange one at that.

freezation · 28/05/2014 20:37

You had a problem with what she was doing. That is up to you but remember it's your problem. What she was doing had no effect on you or anyone else so complaining about her was really mean. Why did you complain? You haven't actually explained that part. Apart from that it made you feel "uncomfy". Which was your problem and not hers.

Namelessonsie · 28/05/2014 20:38

I think formula is different as I don't think (May be wrong so please correct me) that formula fed babies get desperate to be fed by the skin to skin while swimming. That is besides the fact that there are laws protecting breastfeeding but not formula feeding.

Bellezeboobian · 28/05/2014 20:38

YANBU

There's no need to breastfeed a baby on the steps of a pool. I breastfed, I would move to the cafe or wherever anyone else would have food.

Swipe left for the next trending thread