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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding in a swimming pool

91 replies

Winegal · 21/08/2018 18:36

A story has come out about a woman been told that she can't breastfeed IN a public pool. AIBU to think that's actually fair enough?

I think women should be allowed to breastfeed wherever they need/want to. We have a massive issue in this country with women feeling uncomfortable breastfeeding in public and I agree that needs to stop but IN a pool? This isn't pleasant is it? The water is meant to be clean and if there is milk in the water isn't that a bit...off?!

Fully expecting to be flamed here but really interested to see what people think about it.

OP posts:

Pengggwn · 21/08/2018 19:21

WhatAmISupposedToBeDoing

If the people eating or drinking are in the pool, then people are eating or drinking in the pool. Rule broken.

CuckooCuckooClock · 21/08/2018 19:22

And loads of adults take bottles of water poolside to drink in between lengths.

GreenShadow · 21/08/2018 19:25

The interview on Midlands Today kept on about discrimination. But as no one else is permitted to feed in a pool, banning her can hardly be classed as discrimination!

Kahlua4me · 21/08/2018 19:27

Adults do take water to drink as do kids at swimming lessons, however they are not likely to need winding or throw up!

Fgs people in this world are becoming so self centred and only looking at it from their point of view it’s getting ridiculous. What is the stress in getting out of the pool and taking your time to feed by the side, probably better and warmer for the baby.

The one in that story was 18 months so on solids too, perhaps the mum had some Pom bears and cucumber sticks ready in case they were needed in the pool...

AnnieAnoniMoose · 21/08/2018 19:28

I really can’t get worked up about it. A few drops of milk in a swimming pool is the least of your worries. I’ve never known a toddler to throw up after a feed (unless already ill when they shouldn’t be in the pool anyway).

What, exactly, is the problem?

(No, I didn’t do it myself, I’ve never bf a toddler in the day)

Sparklingbrook · 21/08/2018 19:28

Must be a very slow news day on Midlands today.

toomanychilder · 21/08/2018 19:31

And loads of adults take bottles of water poolside to drink in between lengths

In many pools that isn't allowed. Quite rightly.

TheCraicDealer · 21/08/2018 19:32

MN has taught me to look at breastfeeding completely differently from when I started hanging out here ten years ago- breastmilk is baby food, and should be treated as such. If an adult wouldn't want to eat their lunch in a toilet or broomcupboard then we shouldn't expect a BFed baby to. However that works both ways- if older children or adults can't eat or drink whilst in the pool then it's not appropriate to feed there either. The fact that there might be wee or worse in the pool is immaterial.

And as a PP said, if you let a BF mum feed in the pool it'll be an absolute minefield to explain to a mother using bottles why she can't do the same.

mumsastudent · 21/08/2018 19:34

poor baby dirty water & does this increase risk of mastitis? & many babies do poos when they feed...

StressedToTheMaxx · 21/08/2018 19:36

At sitting out of the pool yes.
But in the pool no.
Think of how much chlorine and germs the poor baby could swallow
It's just the same as having dinner in the pool. I would probably feel quite sick actually to think about it 😂

abbsisspartacus · 21/08/2018 19:36

I'm sorry but I would want to wash my breast after being in a pool before I put it in the babies mouth pool water is rancid

StressedToTheMaxx · 21/08/2018 19:37

Eating in in the pool I mean would make me sick. Not the breast feeding.

Mindchilder · 21/08/2018 19:38

Yeah because babies don't swallow any pool water while swimming

Walkingthroughawall · 21/08/2018 19:40

d'you seriously think a bit of milk is the worst thing you could find in a swimming pool?!

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 21/08/2018 19:40

Breastfeeding should be allowed anywhere that bottle feeding would be allowed. IN a swimming pool is not appropriate.

Dahlietta · 21/08/2018 19:41

I think in the recent story, the lady in question was actually in some sort of toddler swim class and it was the lady leading the class who asked her to leave? My instinct was that there was more to it than the headline suggested, but yes I'm sure the Mail was delighted to get another big breastfeeding headline. Weirdoes.

EdWinchester · 21/08/2018 19:46

IN the pool is a bit weird.

I was a terrible squirter when I was bfing. It would’ve been pretty unpleasant for swimmers in the vicinity. Plus totally unnecessary.

cadburyegg · 21/08/2018 19:49

This comes up a lot and whilst breastfeeding mothers are legally allowed to feed wherever they want, I also think that just because you can doesn’t mean you should. I’ve bf both my babies and I wouldn’t take both of them (3.5y, 5m) by myself to a swimming pool. If you have a bf baby and another child that you need to supervise closely in the pool then you need to bring another adult along. It’s not safe otherwise imo.

I’ve also never felt a desperate need to bf in the pool, it takes 10 seconds to get out and feed poolside.

a lot of bf mothers unfortunately are OTT with their rights and this is a good example of this.

garethsouthgatesmrs · 21/08/2018 19:55

I've said this on the other thread but think it applies here.

If you would be able to bottle feed somewhere you should also be able to breastfeed. The converse is also true. You wouldn't be able to bottle feed in a pool so I don't think you should be able to breastfeed. You cant eat/drink in an attempt to keep the water clean. Whatever reason you want to feed its not ok to get a bottle out, a bottle feeding mum would have to get out of the pool to feed her baby.

JackReacherReader · 21/08/2018 19:56

@Spanglylycra same! Their sad faces were amazing!

garethsouthgatesmrs · 21/08/2018 19:59

cadbury
If you have a bf baby and another child that you need to supervise closely in the pool then you need to bring another adult along. It’s not safe otherwise imo

Unless we are talking about a very young baby I disagree. I don't think it makes any difference whether the baby is breast or bottle fed. I swam regularly with all my children but when one is a baby you make sure you time it so they are unlikely to need a feed and if they do you just have to get out. Most pools have somewhere poolside you can sit and you other child can sit with you. I don't think I ever needed to get out early once mine were over about 3 months.

I would never leave a toddler in the pool while I breast or bottle fed a baby at the side of the pool. Feeding takes a lot of your attention and It only takes seconds for something dreadful to happen.

Aeroflotgirl · 21/08/2018 20:00

I agree Cadbury, the voice of reason.

oblada · 21/08/2018 20:01

It's all a bit ridiculous to be frank. There is no health and safety or hygiene reason. Pools are disgusting already and baby will have swallowed dirty water by then. Most women will not choose to feed in a pool but some do for various reasons such as to try and settle a child who is not getting used to the water very easily, or because it's cold to leave the pool (and no towels at hand until go into changing area) or because need to stay close to an older child and it's easier. I have bf during a baby swimming class with my second child and I didn't get out of the pool as it was 1) easier 2)quicker (those classes are short and expensive!) And 3) warmer. She was very small and was finding the class a bit overwhelming and it allowed us to participate (after the feed).

stressedtiredbuthappy · 21/08/2018 20:50

Do you honestly think all the kids that use that pool aren't pissing in it??? Get a grip, why do you think there's chlorine in there??

stressedtiredbuthappy · 21/08/2018 20:53

Jesus some of these comments???
Am I on Mumsnet or the daily Mail????

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