Breastfeeding in the swimming pool?

[AuntPepita]

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.

Fair do's. Why do you think the lifeguard asked you to move to the side of the pool, for safety reasons, hygiene reasons or just general anti-bf? IMO the first is fine, the second also fine but slightly more debatable and the last v unlikely.

Bumps. Sorry, I didn't mean to be offensive. No, it wasn't all plain sailing (2 fine, 1 nightmare). But it just never occurred to me that being in water would make any difference.

Bumpsnow - in the OP's case the bfing was for comfort not food.

Maybe he was screaming because he didn't want to be in the pool!!
Maybe too noisy, too cold ....yeah I know he had a suit on!
So if he was screaming because he wasn't hungry why feed him. Oh yeah to comfort him. Surely it would make more sense to get out.

This thead is getting more bonkers!!

hygiene reasons????

Bumps The problem is that others might not want to be in the pool with breast milk floating around.

Why does the argument always come down to someone saying that people have a problem because breasts are invovled or are against bfing because someone is uncomfortable with someone feeding in a certain situation?

FFS It is possible to support breast feeding but not be comfortable with a specific situation.

It's hardly piranhas no need to be defensive, just helps typify ebf as an inaccessible, not normal thing IMO.

People are being honest - just discuss folks, PARD

And what Schrodinger said.

Hoopdepoop I cant have a bath now without my daughter latching on and she wont sit and have a bath with her siblings anymore either which was not the goal i can tell you ... But it did get us back on track..

No I don't have a problem with however long someone wants to breastfeed their child for, that is their choice, but the need to do it anywhere after the baby/child is no longer a little baby I don't understand.

I see no need for it in a swimming pool at 15 months. The OP has said it wasn't for hunger.

can't see any problem about leakage, i mean the breast may well leak in the pool when swimming anyway

i'd probably write a letter to complain but would kick up a massive stink

But Schrodinger I cant see how bm can get in the water anyway. She couldnt' have had a boobs in the water or she would have drowned her son. So she must have been in the shallow end so how the devil would milk have got in the water? Maybe it is just me but I dont squirt milk everywhere and there is never milk on me, my clothes or the sofa when I feed at home so what would make bm go in the water?

I don't think breastfeeding in a swimming pool is a particularly good idea. Why would anybody want to. Would most people not come out of the pool to feed. Can't see the logic myself.

Just because you don't spray milk doesn't mean others don't.

I once actually managed to squirt milk onto DP's laptop 2 metres away before DS was even born.

I have tried my upmost to squirt milk but unless I actually express I cant get anything out. Good shot SchrodingersMew now that is a skill to be cherished I'd say

I think the guard was reasonable.

Breastfeeding is normal.
As is having a bottle/a drink/a sandwich/a dummy/a comfort blanket.

I think where ever it is reasonable to have one, it is reasonable to have the others.

It is reasonable to have a drink at the edge of the pool/in a cafe/on a park bench etc. and it is reasonable to have a dummy or a comfort blanket at the edge of the pool/in a cafe/on a park bench etc.
It is not reasonable to take a drink or a sandwich or a dummy or comfort blanket into a swimming pool, so IMO it's not particularly unreasonable to ask you not to breastfeed a child in there either.

Trust me it really isn't.

comfort duck here not a blanket.. Only way ds would ever go in is if he was clutching that ruddy flashing duck. He is 3 now and loves the water so that duck did its job..

I work at a pool. We had someone breast feed in the water. Lifeguards concerned of breast milk in the pool and baby ingesting chlorinated water. The lady was offered the first aid room or chair on poolside. But was adamant she was styling in the pool was very uncomfortable as she was not discreet has costume round waist and both breasts out. I breast fed my son everywhere but I wouldn't have done it so obviously in the pool

No. Ew. I don't care about leaking breastmilk; it's just rude and exhibitionist ( I nursed all three of mine for a year each before anyone says I'm anti-bf ). Why would your fifteen month old need to breast-feed mid-swim anyway? Wouldn't they be more interested in splashing and having fun? Don't you take a sippy cup of water for him to drink if he's thirsty ?

my baby ingestes chlorinated water without bf in the pool. she licks it.. babies are gross really arn't they.. she also eats shoes..

Would the baby not get cold being half out of the water and still wet? I'm breastfeeding my 5 month old and it would never occur to me to feed him in a pool, similarly I wouldn't feed him in a bath - I just can't imagine it being particularly safe, practical or necessary.

It was me that mentioned being sick. I am well aware toddlers don't spit up after milk.

But I stated any heavier liquid, juice or milk.

When dd has asked for milk in the pool I have asked her if she is ready to get out / leave. She has always said yes.

But that's my child, and unknown when she wants milk because she is feeling uncomfortable I tend to try and address the discomfort first.

I still think you would be hugely unfair to complain about the lifeguard. He only asked you to feed out of the actual pool. Not to stop feeding.