To think you shouldn't breastfeed in a swimming pool

[HappierThanEverBefore]

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

When I started my bf journey, every time I fed in public, I was on red alert, waiting for these professionally offended people to tell me how disgusting I was, and be asked to leave places and generally be treated dreadfully...
In reality, no one has ever batted an eyelid. I'm disappointed, surely I deserve a piece of the controversy that doesn't exist outside of mn or the daily fail comments section

I'm thinking perhaps it was a H&S risk as people can't get out of the pool quickly if she was on the steps.

That's a fair point always. What would happen if there was a fire? Or a shark attack? It is well recognised that otherwise able-bodied women lose the ability to stand and walk when breastfeeding.

I've just thought "I don't believe a word of this story" and trawled through to the end to see if I'm right - totally pointless. But I've been unexpectedly amused by the idea of a stranger on a Tube offering to get my clothes dry-cleaned because of a few drops of breastmilk, and an entire pool full of people running screaming from a shark attack while a woman breastfeeds on oblivious.

Norah - in SE London (which is where I live) i'm now flummoxed by the fact that I have only rails/steps and no wide steps.... and am considering lobbying the local councils for wider steps.

hang on a minute I wonder what they do do in those pools (Beckenham Spa, Thornton Heath Pool and South Norwood Leisure Centre) in case you're asking. the other one I go to in summer Brockwell Lido has metal steps (not wide) so you can certainly not BF there. but has lovely decking areas to sit, a cafe etc.

The pool I took DD to when she was a baby only had letters. I feed her standing up.

I think we have to look at all sides, HIV is carried in breast milk. That's a fact, and boobs squirt when a baby latches on, also a fact.
My boob squirts were extremely forceful, and I was amazed when i let down I could get my milk so far across the room with my babe on the other one.

Re HIV, Lets just say hypothetically, that the lady didn't give birth in a country where she is legally obliged to take a HIV test when pregnant, or she has successfully contested the hospital's decision to mandatorily test every pregnant woman. Or she only showed up in the hospital to give birth whilst her baby was crowning, and avoided all prenatal care- something that happens a lot where I live. (About 10% of one particular hospital births, and mostly of Nigerian women iirc from discussions with consultant obs)

Then potentially a mother could have HIV virus in her breast milk. Milk does squirt out when a baby feeds, and also milk covers the baby's little face when s/he feeds.

There is a potential chance that HIV virus could hit someone's open wound, especially as people are wearing their togs, and have more skin exposed. There is a chance, maybe a slim one, but a chance none the less.

The risk of transmission is there, even if its small. You can't ignore that risk, just because you post a bit on the internet and think of yourself as being urbane and clever.

Now, otoh, I'm all for bf mother's rights to parent their babies as they see best, and I also know having bf in public how horrible it is to have people get their judgy pants in a twist because they view your boobs as something other than the way you and your baby sees them, and move you on for being disgusting or an exhibitionist.

But, I think a swimming pool has a no food or drink policy, so that rule is the one I think must be adhered to in this case.

Venus I think you will find you would not be allowed into a swimming pool with OPEN WOUNDS

That's interesting that you think that, Venus. However, legally it is allowable to breastfeed in a pool - there is no health and safety risk that would justify preventing a woman from doing so. Your worry about HIV seems a little hysterical.

Women who are breastfeeding often leak milk when not actually feeding. Should all lactating women be banned from swimming just in case of HIV transmission?

Ha ha ha

Oh dear quick all lactating mothers must stay away from public places lest they spray milk... And pass on the hiv virus... Maybe we should all wear haz chem suits? Just in case?!

Btw drinks of water are allowed at swimming pools, clear fluid rule.

And the court found no h&s reasons to stop women bfeeding in a pool, it's all covered in the analytical armadillo link.

I leaked milk when I swam, hell I sprayed milk when I fed, it went on a man's newspaper I shouldn't have been allowed out in public

Not all women squirt or leak though, some never even see a drop of milk, yet still bfeed fine... Perhaps there should be some leakage/spray test that determines if a lactating woman is safe to go out in public.... Not sure what a safe level of leakage would be...

Love it how venus thinks the breastfeeding woman is more likely to be careless about passing on HIV rather than those one regularly sees swimming along with open wounds.
5madthings, I woulld be allowed in with my non-squirty boobs and could wave at you drinking Klix chicken soup on the side whilst your squirty boobs adorned the viewing window.

venus do you even grasp the irony of what you are saying about open wounds, breastsmilk and HIV?

Think about it...........

Precisely my point too. And no, I don't think she would.

I am amazed there haven't been any BM Trevi Fountain references yet

Venus, don't stop. It's hilarious.
Have you thought about the cholera risk yet?? Then there's leprosy as well ...

Venus the HIV test isn't mandatory in this country afaik (I'm sure I was given a choice whether to have it or not)
Irrelevant to the argument but just saying.

There's 21 pages and I can't go through all of it but I'm just wondering if the point has been raised and answered; is it allowed to FF babies in the pool? And if not, why not? This isn't intended to be inflammatory, genuinely curious if anyone's ever come across this.

If I'm swimming in spit and piss and seeing more parts of people's bodies than I've ever wanted to see I'm looking at you men wearing budgie smugglers , a woman whipping out a boob and feeding her hungry baby isn't going to bother me.

I did see someone bottle feeding a baby in a rubber ring in a swimming pool in center parcs once. Not sure if there is a rule in council leisure centres.

I think it's less likely than breast feeding because if a baby suddenly wants feeding you won't have the bottle there with you, you'd have to get out anyway, so would more than likely feed outside of the pool where the bottle is. If breast feeding you have it to hand already so to speak.

If a mother is bottle feeding in a pool she has specifically made the decision before entering the pool that she is going to feed there which is fine, I can't see a problem with it but I would think it unlikely.