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

It's a good job that no-one ever approached me and asked me to move/leave - DS used to get hot and thirsty in and around the swimming pool and also tired and cranky. I often discreetly gave him the boob at the poolside. So sick of people bloody whinging about these scenarios. Don't bloody look. Get over it. There are more obscenities hanging out of ill fitting swimwear.

You didn't answer my question though

Why not a swimming pool though?

I don't think I would want to feed a baby in , or half in, the pool. I would time the visit so that baby was fed beforehand. I wouldn't want to risk regurgitated milk in the pool - yeah I get it, piss etc, but why add to it. Also my babies tended to fill their nappies after a feed, so would need to get out for a nappy change. Feed before, swim, feed again, did it umpteen times.

Oh yes driving! I am intimately au fait with most lay-bys hereabouts!

eminy sorry I didn't see your post, I wouldn't say anything no. It wouldn't bother me, but I can see why it bothers others and I wouldn't do it myself.

Indigo. It wouldn't matter if my babies were fed immediately before entering a pool - within 10 mins they would want another feed from all the skin to skin. Just how they are!

i would have thought as everyone is in swimsuits and will be showering and changing that this is exactly a comfortable place to feed. In fact i'd find it more natural to feed there than anywhere else. I am really straining to work out why anyone would think differently. Also i would think nothing of eating and drinking poolside, which i do happily on holiday/cafes in our local baths. I also have eaten in the changing rooms without a second thought and now think nothing of giving toddler ds something to munch on.

I would probably avoid feeding DS2 in a pool, as he's a puker. DS1 I could have fed in a pool no problem, though it never came up.

Certainly haven't seen any convincing arguments for why no one should be able to feed in a swimming pool though.

Oh and we don't need to choose this as a battle, it's already illegal to be asked not to breast feed in a pool. Just asking people to be tolerant.

How lovely for the baby, mother and the other children who were lucky to see a baby being bf.

Op, you'll get over it, no harm done .

P.s. Would it have bothered you had she given the baby a bottle whilst sitting on the step?

I wouldn't have fed at the swimming pool for same reasons as Indigo as feeds usually resulted in dirty nappy

Mind you I rarely left the house when I was breastfeeding as it was so horrible, exhausting and relentless and I don't recall feeding anywhere public.

That's fair enough then belle. Everyone has the right to choose what they do and don't feel comfortable doing, just not to impose that on others, which is what the op was doing, therefore she WBU.

No idea why a swimming pool does not merit the battle but a bus does. If you can bf in public you can bf in public. I probably wouldn't choose a mastectomy clinic but I can't really think of anywhere else one shouldn't bf.

I found that mine were busy enjoying the splashing and movement in the water. I can't recall ever having to leave the pool to feed either twin despite almost daily swimming from a few months old (we lived abroad), and ebf for a year. But yes, all babies are different.

She's only feeding her baby. It's pretty important to do so!

Lots of hotels abroad have "swim up bars". The hotel we stayed in in the spring had tables in the jacuzzis (which were just part of the swimming pool) for drinks.

I really couldn't give a monkey's about a baby being BF on the pool steps!

I would think it's very unhygienic and would not like it in a pool I was swimming in.

Why is it unhygienic?

In what respect would you find it unhygienic Sarah?

Have you ever thought about what else is in the water at a swimming pool?
Pee, poo crumbs, foot fungus, pus from burst zits, scabs that fall off...
A bit of breast milk doesn't really seem so bad.

I don't think it's the best place to BF (or FF, or eat) and I wouldn't have done it myself but I would not have complained.

If your baby is crying chances are you're going to be leaking milk whether you feed them or not...

I wouldn't feed either of my DC's anywhere I wouldn't want to eat a meal myself; but that's my personal preference & suited the feeding habits of my babies.

It could be that this baby gets cranky & the best way to calm them down is a feed.

I would find the busy steps difficult, as I am disabled, but I don't know if there were any seats round the edge of the pool to accommodate this lady & her baby.

So in the balance, yes I'd find it unusual, but I don't think it would bother me!