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Original poster

Mother sues for £20k for being discouraged from bf while the wave machine was on

1000 replies

sizeofalentil · 02/05/2016 12:54

Daily Mirror link to the story here.

I'm totally for breastfeeding wherever and whenever, but I wouldn't want to eat my sandwiches in a swimming pool - they are so germy, like a human soup, so not sure a swimming pool with a wave machine on would be the best place to bf. Plus, obviously in this case there was the waves.

I realise that getting out of the water, especially if she had other kids, with a hungry baby would be a massive faff, but wouldn't the wave machine splash the baby and make it choke?

Serious question: AIBU to think this? Is bf in a swimming pool a done thing? Genuinely curious.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
PinkyOfPie · 02/05/2016 16:12

I am unashamedly as lactivisty as you get - and I think this was a fucking stupid thing to do. I have breastfed at the swimming pool - on a chair at the side, with a towel round me and baby (for warmth rather than comfort). I can't understand why anyone would leave their legs in a pool when there were other options

MyNewBearTotoro · 02/05/2016 16:13

I don't really think feeding in a swimming pool is okay. I wouldn't think feeding a baby from a bottle in a swimming pool was okay either.

I breastfed both my babies and think breastfeeding should be socially acceptable in most places and socially acceptable in all places bottle/ spoon etc feeding are okay. That said I do think there are some places where feeding a baby, whether that be from breast, spoon or bottle, isn't really acceptable. Fine to feed a baby on the side of the pool out of the water but I don't think anybody should be fed whilst in the water and especially not with the wave machines on.

Buckinbronco · 02/05/2016 16:14

I think it's a lie like all the other "I was stopped BF in public" stories

Floggingmolly · 02/05/2016 16:15

There appears to have been £20k's worth of reason to do it in this idiot's case, Pinky. I can't think of a single other reason.

OurBlanche · 02/05/2016 16:16

And that's part of the problem... what about all the women who are stopped from bf in public?

No one believes them either?

Skittlesss · 02/05/2016 16:17

Those wave machines rearly rock you around, how on earth would one breastfeed whilst being shunted all over? That poor baby as well having to feed whilst in the waves and then s/he probably felt sick from the waves afterwards. What a goon!

Skittlesss · 02/05/2016 16:18

Really not rearly

Buckinbronco · 02/05/2016 16:19

Not anymore no :( I know a number of women who are positively disappointed they weren't challenged about BF in public because they had whole speeches prepared Grin

JuxtapositionRecords · 02/05/2016 16:20

Her hospital story sounds very similar - she was offered a private room. No one asked her to stop bf.

m.burnleyexpress.net/news/campaigns/burnley-mum-s-breast-feeding-humiliation-1-7001663

Chlobee87 · 02/05/2016 16:21

It's a matter of safety and it actually isn't to do with this woman's rights. As far as I'm concerned, the only person who's opinion mattered in this scenario was the lifeguard who was ultimately responsible for the safety of the people using the pool. He felt that the baby was not safe. He was not prepared to take any risks and so he suggested leaving the wave pool to feed. I couldn't give a monkey's whether the woman felt safe or not. She can take whatever risks she likes on her own time. Maybe she didnt feel it was a risk at all. Good for her. But the lifeguard did and he should not have to put his neck on the line to appease anybody.

Skylander01 · 02/05/2016 16:21

Wave machine = wage machine to this woman!!

PinkyOfPie · 02/05/2016 16:21

Women do get harassed for BF in public. Bullied, shamed and run out of places they're legally entitled to be in. This lady was not one of those people. I can't stand it when DM readers accuse women who BF in public of being attention seekers. It would seem however, in this case, this woman is and is massively damaging the cause of every other poor BFer who just wants to feed their baby without any drama or attention brought to her.

Buckinbronco · 02/05/2016 16:24

She's a lactivist- her Instagram is all breastfeeding photos- isn't it funny that her, of all
People, was the one spoken to about public breastfeeding? ShockWink

PinkyOfPie · 02/05/2016 16:24

In her defence though, the hospital in her first story shouldn't have suggested she move anywhere else.

JuxtapositionRecords · 02/05/2016 16:26

And at 8 months old baby can wait for a feed. I'm sorry but they can. Considering babies shouldn't be in a pool for too long anyway it's not like it could have been long. And for those saying she shouldn't have got out as baby would be cold - well either baby is up out of the water feeding therefore cold anyway or is water level therefore getting a nice nose full every time there is a wave.

JuxtapositionRecords · 02/05/2016 16:29

The hospital offered her a room, which is entirely different to suggesting she moves to a room - I'm assuming they were trying to be helpful to HER. For every woman who is comfortable bf in public there must be loads more who aren't and welcome people trying to make it easier IF THEY WISH.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 02/05/2016 16:31

She describes herself as a vegan lactivist enough said

She wasn't asked to leave the pool area, she was offered a chair poolside. Not told to go in a toilet, changing room or anywhere else. Talk about wanting to make a big deal out of nothing at all.

I also notice the photo of her in the DM is perhaps rather unusual and indicates that maybe she likes seeing if she can get a reaction over breastfeeding. She's in a restaurant, feeding her youngest. Nothing wrong with that, I bf dd for 16 months and bf her everywhere. But never did I feel the need to pose for a photo in a restaurant while bf.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2016 16:32

yy jux

it's unclear really as to whether she was actually asked to stop and hide away or merely offered somewhere people thought might be more comfortable me where she could relax and have a drink whilst doing so.

she's clearly one of those people.

I mean if people look uncomfortable or appear to be struggling it's a nice thing to do to offer a safer space or one where they have room to do it.

SoupDragon · 02/05/2016 16:36

All she is doing is making it more difficult for ordinary breastfeeding mothers.

Rosae · 02/05/2016 16:39

Please remember that none of you have actually heard her side or know her and the media are well known for exaggerating facts if not fabricating them in order to get a sensational story out that will sell.

Verticalvenetianblinds · 02/05/2016 16:41

I'm a feed anywhere and everywhere kinda mum, but I wouldn't feed in a wave pool, I wouldn't feed when driving a car or riding a bike. I'm not stupid, but then if someone offered me a chair regardless of where I am feeding I doubt I'd sue. I'd just think their being helpful.

Gutted that 86% of people think it should be banned it public pools tho. I don't get why?!

PinkyOfPie · 02/05/2016 16:42

Rosae the leisure centre have confirmed that they are being sued - she's a repeat offender. This alone makes me make my mind up about her

MistressMerryWeather · 02/05/2016 16:44

Rosae, the fact that she has form for this and one look at her Instagram kinda makes me doubt that any of this has been exaggerated.

Birdsgottafly · 02/05/2016 16:44

""She describes herself as a vegan lactivist, enough said""

I don't agree with her. But what exactly does, "Vegan Lactivist," mean?

Just wondering why I'm at fault because I'm Vegan and BF all my children.

I'm sure if she described herself as a Muslim Lactivist, it wouldn't have, enough said, on the end.

PinkyOfPie · 02/05/2016 16:45

Birds it means she doesn't eat other lactivists or any lactivist by-product Grin

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