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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Breastfeeding in the swimming pool?

220 replies

AuntPepita · 21/08/2012 21:13

Does anyone have any thoughts on this one?

I went swimming with DS (15mo) earlier and he was tired, grizzly and signing milk, so I fed him. The lifeguard eventually cottoned on and asked me to stop, so I did, but the more I think about it the more annoyed I am. Should I just suck (ha ha) it up, or make a fuss?

He was happy for me to feed at the poolside, just not in the pool.

He was perfectly polite, but I suspect knows nothing about the mechanics.

OP posts:
SchrodingersMew · 21/08/2012 22:54

Hoop It's half true, it's the urine or other bodily fluids reacting with the chlorine that causes the eyes to sting.

It can also be sweat, doesn't need to be urine.

iknowwho · 21/08/2012 22:54

I used to go to the swimming pool a lot when I was going through the BF stage but it would NEVER occur to me to do it in a middle of a swimming session. I knew roughly when a feed would be due and I would want to be comfortable. Once you have your upper half out of the water and you are not moving you get cold quick.
Seems a bit daft tbh and another 'extreme' Bf thread tbh!

iknowwho · 21/08/2012 22:55

mummy milk WTF!! Is this Little Britain or something!!

ThoughtsPlease · 21/08/2012 22:56

I agree completely iknowwho

midori1999 · 21/08/2012 22:56

Yes, it's completely 'extreme' to just feed your baby/toddler whenever they need or want it. I expect it is all about the OP, for her benefit and she just forced her DC to breastfeed to make a point... Hmm

Original poster
AuntPepita · 21/08/2012 22:57

Extreme Confused?

Baby was there, boobs were there, not so weird?

OP posts:
ThoughtsPlease · 21/08/2012 22:58

I took a 6 year old, 5 year old and a 15 week old swimming last week, and managed to time it so that the baby could wait until after swimming to feed!

Original poster
AuntPepita · 21/08/2012 22:58

Mummy milk, as distinct from any other milk; different sign, different concept.

OP posts:
ThoughtsPlease · 21/08/2012 22:59

At 15 months he doesn't 'need' to feed in a swimming pool!

Reluctant2ndtimer · 21/08/2012 22:59

I wouldn't have had a problem with breastfeeding in a pool until reading this thread - now the thought of scabs, wee, poo and who knows what else being in the water while my child tries to feed has made me feel a bit

Original poster
AuntPepita · 21/08/2012 23:02

Maybe not for the nutrition aspect, but that's only a small part of bf at 15 mo.

OP posts:
iknowwho · 21/08/2012 23:03

Extreme as in more and more obscure places to breast feed.
Sometimes it seems on threads like this an OP almost likes to brag about how 'out there ' she is with her breast feeding!!!

I know that breast milk is distinct to any other milk but you sound stupid and twee saying 'mummy milk' Not saying you are those things but it sounds as daft as fuck!!!

ThoughtsPlease · 21/08/2012 23:03

So why does he need to be bf in a swimming pool at 15 months?

bumpsnowjustplump · 21/08/2012 23:03

Floggingmolly at one point the only place my daughter would feed was in the bath, because we were having latch issues. It sounds like your BF journey went without a hitch, well done you but remember not everyones does. I fed my daughter in the pool last week, well not the main pool but the baby section of the pool. Why wouldn't I? She was hungry, i had three children with me and she was screaming.

bumpsnowjustplump · 21/08/2012 23:04

I am guessing because he was hungry ThoughtsPlease. Or is there a magic age that you no longer get hungry?

HoopDePoop · 21/08/2012 23:06

I'm afraid I'm hopping to the 'weird' side of the fence on this one OP. You could just give your child a cuddle, it doesn't always have to be a feed. Yes it can help soothe but it's not always essential and you seem to be determined to be right on this. I think doing it at the side of the pool was fine but struggle to see how you've managed to make this an attack on bfers.

HoopDePoop · 21/08/2012 23:07

Bumpsnow the OP has inferred it was for comfort and not hunger.

Original poster
AuntPepita · 21/08/2012 23:07

Need= connection, closeness, comfort (teething), whatever - I'm not a baby mind reader.

Not trying to be out there or extreme, just happened to be in the pool and it's the first time in 4 yrs of almost constant breastfeeding that I have been asked to stop, so thought it worthy of comment.

Sounds stupid and twee, but you're not saying I am. Thanks for clearing that up Hmm

OP posts:
ThoughtsPlease · 21/08/2012 23:07

If you take a 15 month old swimming surely you ensure that they are not hungry before you go? And would you not give them food if they were hungry?

Original poster
AuntPepita · 21/08/2012 23:10

I tried cuddling. Result = screaming.

I didn't want to get out because it's an outdoor pool and it's cold!

Chill out people, I was only after opinions, I'm not determined to be right - if you read my first couple of posts I thought that was clear.

OP posts:
Original poster
AuntPepita · 21/08/2012 23:11

He wasn't feeding for hunger or thirst and had just had his tea.

OP posts:
bumpsnowjustplump · 21/08/2012 23:12

Sorry I must have missed that reply, my internet is very slow sometimes. I still dont see the problem to be honest, as long as it was safe and she wasnt' doing it coming down the slide head first or anything!! What is the difference to that and cuddling the baby? Is it because breasts were involved? What is icky about someone feeding their baby for comfort????? I fail to see the problem I really do. She couldn't have been very far in the pool or it would not have been possiable without drowning her child so she must have been in a shallow part of the pool..

iknowwho · 21/08/2012 23:12

What don't you understand? now I'm Confused

The words you used sound twee and stupid.

but seeing that I don't know you I dont know your personality. I'm just commenting on the silly words you use. it's as bad as 'mummy friends' which make people sound like they are 7 years old!!
Using the word 'mummy' especially describing anything to do about yourself is cringeworthy!!

ThoughtsPlease · 21/08/2012 23:12

I really do find this most odd Confused You need to offer closeness and comfort by breastfeeding in the pool when you have taken your 15 month old swimming? Confused

I strongly believe in bf, and am currently ebf my 3rd child, as I did with the other 2, but I cannot get my head round this!

bumpsnowjustplump · 21/08/2012 23:14

ThoughtsPlease the more you post the more I think it is the extended bf you have a problem with not the bf in the pool... Breast milk is food, it doesn't stop being food at 6 months