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

If it bothers you OP don't look. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable walking past a mother breastfeeding her baby wherever I was. What does make me feel uncomfortable are threads like this!!

I guess more likely in holiday pool complexes as you are likely to spend hours there, there is a cafe/bar poolside and so on.

I would have thought it would be more difficult to feed there. What if someone splashed you on the way past? I think you and the baby might get a bit cold too.

If it was me, I'd wrap us both up in a towel (for warmth) and sit on one of those benches on the side of the pool.

I swam with DS when he was a baby, and I took him away from the side of the pool in case he was sick or something.

So no, I'd wouldn't bother me, I'd just think 'surely you'd be more comfortable and warm at the side'.

The part of all this I just do not understand is how can a little baby feeding make anyone feel uncomfortable because a bit of breast is visible when we are bombarded with photos in the press of naked women, on TV, people walking around in next to nothing or topless on the beach. Breastfeeding a baby is not sexual or confrontational and doesn't or shouldn't affect anyone around them.

Does it still make people uncomfortable? Really?! Are we still at the stage of "tee hee hee! It's a... Lady's... Booby!" Really?

My swimming pool doesnt have benches by the side, is quite cold out of the water, and I'd have to get my children out of the pool, take the all back to the lockers to get their towels and make them sit with me getting cold while I fed the baby in the changing room, which would not be fun for anyone.

That is exactly what makes me and others cross on this thread though - that despite the law, people are so prejudiced that mothers will still feel desperately uncomfortable and therefore less likely to breastfeed as a result. And that prejudice has been exemplified ten fold - on MN, of all places! So so sad

I declined the HIV test for this pregnancy.

And though it's been 6 months since I stopped bf, I still leak milk. No more swimming for me :(

And I would find it much warmer to bf semi submerged than sat out in the very cold air of our swimming pool. Plus I want a nice dry towel for later, not soak it with our swimsuits.

feenie yep I agree. I don't bfeed anymore but I think back to ds1 and the times I did go feed in stinky change rooms etc and tried to hide a bit. As he got older I got more bolshy and as I have had more kids... Well I don't care what people think of me! But a LOT of mums worry about feeding in public and reading this kind of negative shit does affect people. So even though I don't have lactating boobs any more I will stick up for women's right to bfeed!

And there are many more subjects that make me ranty, but stuff that affects women and children particularly be it sexism, disabilism or just twatishness, well that's guaranteed to make me ranty.

Well, I'm not in the UK, and we do have HIV testing as mandatory antenatal care here.

However some people don't present for any antenatal care here at all, and just arrive at the hospital untested to deliver, they have to be treated as if they were HIV/ HepC positive as testing would take too long.

historically, we have had a lot of African women coming to get their visas for the EU, by giving birth here, and until a loophole was closed we did have HIV HepC positive people giving birth in hospitals and leaving before their results came in. It was hugely expensive, as everyone of those mothers had to have barrier nursing.

I'm just discussing the possible risks. I'm a scientist and deal with risk. Maybe you find the risk too small, and so find it hilarious, but it doesn't change the fact that there is a risk. The fact that testing isn't mandatory in the UK is news to me. I think mandatory testing a good idea.
I never swim in public pools btw, they're even filthier than the sea, and fish fuck in that!

Back to the OP.
I defend the mothers rights to breastfed where she likes, but think there would be more comfortable places for her to do so, without the risk of her babe and herself getting cold.
Also, if there's a no eating or drinking allowed in the pool, then I think the mother should have followed those rules. Breast feeding doesn't make you "special" and not obliged to follow the rules.

I defend the mothers rights to breastfed where she likes, but think there would be more comfortable places for her to do so, without the risk of her babe and herself getting cold

I defend her right to make those risks and choices herself I think a grown woman knows when she or her baby is getting cold.

"Breast feeding doesn't make you "special" and not obliged to follow the rules."

You're correct, it doesn't make you special, but in the UK breastfeeding is protected by law. That means in effect that a woman can breastfeed wherever they are allowed to be, unless there is a clear identified health and safety risk to do so. There have been at least two cases where swimming pools have been clearly told that being in a swimming pool is not a health and safety risk. Therefore women cannot be asked to stop breastfeeding or asked to move.

Also, if there's a no eating or drinking allowed in the pool, then I think the mother should have followed those rules. Breast feeding doesn't make you "special" and not obliged to follow the rules.

Yes, it does, literally - the law supersedes those rules!

You would think, being a scientist and all, that you could have worked that out.