Breastfeeding at Olympics - disgrace

[BondiBaby]

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

What harm do you think it could do, showtunesgirl?

kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/baby-water/

None of that is particularly relevant to taking a small amount of cooled boiled water for a baby who may refuse to breastfeed on a potentially hot day in the open, showtunes. I am not suggesting that the OP fill her baby up on a litre of water, nor that she use unboiled (and therefore potentially containing infectious agents) water. However, if the baby is fractious, refuses to breastfeed and gets hot and bothered, a small amount of cooled boiled water can help.

Lots of BF babies won't even look at a bottle, whatever's in it.

What NarkedRaspberry said too.

My DD at 4 months old would no way have taken anything from a bottle as she was a bottle refuser which isn't all that uncommon with EBF babies.

If an EBF baby is hot and bothered, they are much more likely to take a BF rather than anything from a bottle.

Mine would never take a bottle. I am assuming that OP is a first time mother and has revolved everything around the baby. It is actually better to make them fit in - they soon get used to feeding wherever you happen to be. I would just take her.

Just wanted to add I didn't think babies were going to be allowed into Greenwich park and a couple of other places without a ticket because of licensing issues? Apologies if I'm wrong, but may be worth checking before you go!

SirBoobAlot, I think Charlotte means that she can go now because she can take the baby with her? That was my interpretation...

You don't give bottles and water to breastfed babies surely? Also babies are fine in a sling whether in the desert or jungle, a bit oif Olympic heat will do it no harm.

"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. "

What a ludicrous statement! How the hell do you know? Especially in hot weather.

I went to the eventing at greenwich park today and saw lots of babies in slings. It was a hot day as well. So as it's gonna be much cooler over the next couple of days maybe you could take the baby with you and then just find a quiet corner to feed in.

Enjoy monday. We had a brilliant day today :)

That sounds really horrible reality. Fact is it would have been unpleasant for the baby and unecessary. Maybe no long term I'll effects but I'd hate to think of my DD without breast milk for that long - surely the baby was upset?

Just take the baby and feed her when she's hungry. I don't get what the big deal is here at all. You are NOT being discriminated against.

You need your Doctor to tell you whether or not to take your baby somewhere if it's too hot?

They won't let you have a pass out? Well, given breastfeeding mothers aren't exactly disabled or some other special class of person, then I really don't think anyone is discriminating against you or infringing on your human right to attend an olympic event.

You're a mother now, and sometimes that means giving up things you want to do because it's best for your baby. Perhaps the subtext of what your doctor was saying was really 'perhaps you shouldn't go'.

Your GP is talking shite, why on earth would you leave an EBF baby behind?

Sorry to harp on about this RealityAlwaysWins (and I appreciate this isn't the point of the thread) but a 4 month old really should not go 8 hours during the day without fluids/a feed!

It is different with an 11 month old who may not have a milk feed whilst their mother is away but presumably is being nourished from other sources. And not complaining and just sleeping isn't a sign that things are ok. In the heat especially, a baby going 8 hours without any fluid and without complaining does not equal a content and healthy baby.

I am not saying that the child you were looking after was close to death, or that they can't survive this - of course they can - but I do think on MN some quite dangerous ideas can become the received wisdom. Am a medic btw fwiw and really think this cannot go unsaid.

Its going to be about 18degrees on Monday isn't it? I'm sure a baby will be fine in those temps, babies in Italy, etc cope in hotter I'm sure.

If your baby won't take a bottle I'm sure she'll sip out a cup.

Hope you have a ticket for your baby too! Wasn't there a massive furore about babies needing tickets?

Scratch that, I see babies don't need them...tickets that is.

Are you not going to the X-country and can you not just walk away from the fence and stand away from the crowd and then come back? Otherwise I am more then happy to take your place :)