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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breastfeeding at Olympics - disgrace

104 replies

BondiBaby · 27/07/2012 10:43

Hi All,

I was hoping for some Mumsnet support on this matter. I am due to attend the equestrian at Greenwich park on Monday and have been advised by a Dr not to take my 4mth old given the hot weather. I live 5mins walk from the entrance and asked London 2012 if I can be given a pass out in order to breastfeed my baby. I have been told "there are no passes out". Given my baby will not take a bottle I am now being discriminated against and will not be able attend, unless I ignore Drs advice and take her to the event.

I have asked that the issue is escalated with their customer services but dont have a huge amount of faith that I will hear back positively before Monday. I hope reaching out to all you lovely ladies may give some pressure to the situation.

Many Thanks - Elisabeth

OP posts:
Turniphead1 · 27/07/2012 11:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Viviennemary · 27/07/2012 11:47

I can't think why anybody would want to take a 4 month old baby to the Olympics. But the no passes out is obviously for security and no exceptions should be made. How is it discrimination.

SugarBatty · 27/07/2012 11:50

I am hoping this is one of those situations you will look back on in years to come and laugh at yourself about op!

Come on, do you really think you are being discriminated against?

ElephantsCanRemember · 27/07/2012 11:50

Take her with you and feed her when she needs feeding. Job done.

Trazzletoes · 27/07/2012 11:51

Sorry Thumbwitch x post! OP, there's a possibility I may have to take my BF 6 month old to the diving. I can guarantee that that will be significantly hotter than you being outside. Hoping DSis can babysit!!! Btw, you'd be surprised at how many BF babies will take a bottle if no other option. DD refused a bottle til I had an operation under general anaesthetic at 4 months. Couldn't feed her, she survived quite happily with a bottle.

NarkedRaspberry · 27/07/2012 11:51

If nothing else there should be a first aid area that's quiet and out of the sun.

MrsCog · 27/07/2012 11:52

Like other posters have said, unless your DD has a specific health condition etc. that means she can't get remotely overheated ignore the Dr's advice. It's wrong anyway - it's much better to keep your baby withyou in this weather so you can feed little and often to keep them hydrated. DS is a similar age (20 weeks) and has been feeding 1-2 hourly in the day whilst it's been hot. Take a hat, cool clothes etc - maybe a hand held fan?

The weather's set to cool down a lot over the next couple of days anyway so I don't think it's a problem at all.

And no, not discrimination either.

KickTheGuru · 27/07/2012 12:03

It's not the Olympics job to cater for every woman who wants to feed their baby or for every man who needs a specific loo. Unfortunately, they have a mass of security to cater for and they just can't cater for every individual case that needs an individual requirement.

If you can't fit in with the general public, then you can't really expect them to make exceptions. Surely you can have a feeding cloth and just cover her and feed her where you sit? She won't get hot if it's a white cloth and she won't be in the direct sun (if there is sun!)

I live directly opposite that giant effing warship and at ALL hours of the night and day, there are helicopters and beepings and bloopings and sounds and shit going on ALL THE TIME.
I highly doubt that my issue with this is enough for them to change security because, let's be fair, security of the masses is more important than an individual request that may potentially weaken or soften their defences.

And, as an Australian, I'm not sure how a bit of heat would require a whole different set of rules and the inability to sit outside? It's not that hot and if it really is going to be a problem, maybe find someone else to give your tickets to and stay home with your baby?

tempnameswap · 27/07/2012 12:03

"Even if she really truly won't take a bottle, at four months old she can easily go for eight hours between feeds as a one off."

A four month old absolutely shouldn't go for 8 hours without food or drink - difficult enough for an adult in the heat but dangerous for a baby.

Loshad · 27/07/2012 12:07

tell you what bondi, give me your equestrian ticket and you can stay at home and feed your baby. Then both the baby and i will be happy Grin
Honestly really don't know why you just don't take her and feed her there Hmm

Northernlurker · 27/07/2012 12:10

This is what people mean by 'entitlement' isn't it?
OP - you can take your baby and feed her there or you can stay at home and feed your baby there. What you cannot do is expect a specific arrangement to be made for you in the context of a major sporting event where security HAS to be the primary consideration.
Why on earth were you even asking your doctor about taking her? Please tell me you didn't make an appointment specially.......

Rosebud05 · 27/07/2012 12:12

I wouldn't leave a 4 month old baby with someone else if I was exclusively BF and she wouldn't take a bottle.

Unfortunately, exclusively BFing a baby, especially one who is particular about feeding, is quite tying. It does put a limit on what you can do. I guess your choices are to either go and take her, hope that she feeds well enough and be prepared to leave if it's too much, or leave her with someone else and bottles of EBM or formula and hope for the best.

I'd do the first one. I've had to leave numerous events and situations early because one or more of my children are fussing/unhappy/not enjoying it/tired and it's one of the realities of parenting.

RealityStrikesAgain · 27/07/2012 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaptainHetty · 27/07/2012 12:24

Plenty of adults sleep 12 hours a night but you wouldn't go that long without eating or drinking during the day, I'm guessing. And if you did you'd probably be bloody miserable.

KickTheGuru · 27/07/2012 12:26

Yeh not sure I would have a baby in potential heat during the day without some kind of feed for 8 hours. I certainly can't go 8 hours without eating or drinking (unless I am sleeping)

lisaro · 27/07/2012 12:26

Seriously? Discrimination? OP get over yourself and stop being so entitled. Have you any ideas how ridiculous you sound?

BobbiFleckman · 27/07/2012 12:26

just as well people in Dubai and india and sub saharan africa don't have babies who need breastfeeding or taking outside in the heat. Oh.

Please don't waste security or NHS resources on this.

catfart · 27/07/2012 12:35

Just take a hat for her and feed her there, take a large muslin to cover you both. There is no way my DS would wait 5 mins to be fed at 4 months and he'd be hopping on and off my boob every half hour or less sometimes just snacking. i also wouldn't consider feeding my 4 month old for 8 hours!!

iMoniker · 27/07/2012 12:36

Your GP is talking utter bollocks!!

RealityStrikesAgain · 27/07/2012 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PatriciaHolm · 27/07/2012 12:45

The temp is due to be ony 19 degrees on Monday, which surely is far from too hot, so that's not a reason not to take her. Why not take her and see how it goes? Worst case, you can leave. Or try this weekend with your husband giving her a bottle. They can't make a exception for this, it's not a "special case".

Inyourhippyhat · 27/07/2012 12:46

I don't see this as discrimination. You are being treated like everyone else and these are not circumstances that are in any way exceptional or odd.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you enjoy the spectacle!

KickTheGuru · 27/07/2012 13:07

I wonder if anyone with a baby could just mob quickly about the aircraft carrier? Bet it discriminating being outside our house

tempnameswap · 27/07/2012 13:45

"plenty of four month olds sleep through the night for eight hours. It wouldn't be ok in the blazing sunshine but then she would probably take a bottle eventually (in my experience)."

But at night metabolism, diuretic and growth hormones etc are at completely different levels. Sleeping through without food and drink is entirely different from being up during the day for 8 hours without anything.

Anyway, not the main issue of the thread but thought I ought to correct this in case anyone followed this advice. Please don't try this!

Original poster
BondiBaby · 27/07/2012 15:59

Thank you to those above who saw my genuine anxieties and provided supportive, honest feedback, I took this onboard.

For those others who chose to snipe at me/put my in my place.... it was not intended to be about entitlement its about trying to find the best solution if one is avaible rather than the one I was presented. And hey, maybe discrimination was a bad chose of words, i just wanted the best outcome for my baby (and yes perhaps also selfishly one that could mean I could still use my tickey)...

Geeez I never expected this backlash. ohh and the DR was not a GP and I made no reference to taking up the time of NHS resources. Hope that causes less resentment.

Anyway, I think its a case of doing what I think is best for my baby with the options available and as the majority of you say security is the priority here (I never said otherwise). I saw the weather is going to be much milder so looks like its a non-issue after all.

Wishing you all a very happy Olympics. Wink

OP posts:
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