can/should/would you breastfeed an upset 1 yr old in a public swimming pool?

[preggerspoppet]

By popping your boob out right there and then?

thought about this in bed last night (lol at the fact that i think about mn in bed).. Anyway I most definately would feed my babies in a pool if he needed it. What better way to settle an infant who may be frightened. Most natural and beautiful thing in the world and I am fed up of having to defend what is simply right and correct.

Lynette, are you trying to induce spontaneous ovulation?

harpsi - you are right. I have trotted out the discreetly line myself as felt i was almost doing something wrong in the eyes of those who havent bf but you are completely right. If people more more open about it, it would be so much better

littlecarrot - PMSL i have the same on mine, and my mobile and the leather sofa.. must clear off the sofa ones.. house being viewed tomorrow

Actually, I have just had a thought. If bfing my baby would direct peoples attention from my cellulite I would do it in a flash!

wow, lots of replies.

Thankyou for some lovely posts of encouragment and 'well done's', that was nice

very interesting thought about being discrete making people think it needs hiding away hence making the poor bf uptake worse... just wish my boobs looked like some of the pictures on this thread, I'd definately show them off if they did!

re. taking 3 children swimming, I' surprised at the -only 1 under 4 rule, that doesn't seem right? I see lots of mums with 2 under 4's swimming, if that rule is right then it seems a bit unfair.

I feel totally able to take my 3 swimming, I know my children and I know my own limits, I felt perfectly safe, it was just thanks to a quick bit of boob that meant we all had a really nice time there was nothing stressful about it, and te 2 women didn't bother me in the slightest, it just got me thinking, thats all.

I did also sing to the baby but nothing calms him like a boob does, that must mean something?

great point about some babies having a dummy in the pool, I've seen that before for sure.

only other thing..... so am I oficially an 'extended' bfer? I didn't think I had earnt that badge yet, but by some standards I might be there already!?

I prefer the phrase "natural term breastfeeder".

"Extended" makes it seem like you are doing something that is beyond what is necessary. When you are simply carrying on until such time things come to a natural end.

natural term bfer?

ok I'll be one of those then!

Yes. Especially if the alternative is a distressed crying child. I can't think of a place I wouldn't have fed a baby TBH.

I don't think it's a good idea actually, and I am pro-breastfeeding and did it myself for a year. I don't think it would be nice for everyone else in the pool to have your milk dribbling through their water, and I can't see why it would be a big deal to hop out and sit at the side for ten minutes. I am all for people breastfeeding as they need to and am ALSO all for breastfeeders being capable of seeing things from other people's points of view.

And re. the point about urine, etc, also ending up in the pool, I'd also prefer that people didn't wee in the pool thanks very much.

This thread has made me feel like a bad mother for not feeding my baby while I was saying my wedding vowes. That was the only time I didn't imediately feed my babies when they showed distress, but you are obviouly all better mothers that me, and would have done so.

I have a friend who bf her dd aged one while standing at the altar in her wedding dress. I thought 'good for her' but I wonder what the priest thought!

Made for a stunning photo though.

Spitting is wrong in the swimming pool? How about nearly every swimmer i see who swims by keeping mouth open and spitting out the water with every stroke? That upsets me far more than seeing a mum breastfeeding tbh.

Spitting out water? Or breathing out into the water?

a few drops of milk in the pool wouldn't bother me. it must be diluted billions of times.

I'm also impressed that you can take three small children swimming on your own! I can't take more then one at a time!

I just can't see that it would hurt people to be considerate, to hop out and sit at the side.

People not wanting milk in their pool is fine. It doesn't mean they're anti-breastfeeding, or looking at you in horror, or working for Cow & Gate, just that they feel they're entitled to swim in a clean pool.

snort at 'clean pool'.

I think all of us swimming in a public pool have to accept the fact that the water isn't going to be 100% pure. It will be full of sweat, wee, spit and worse. Breastmilk is the thing that would worry me least. In fact, it wouldn't even occur to me.

spitting!

and i like it when people snort out into the water as well, to clear their nostrils after a hard swim. Lovely.

oh yes I should add snot to my list. And blood.

No, belgo, and sweat mixed with pool water doesn't really bother me. But I know it bothers some people, so I shower before using the pool. It's very easy, costs me very little time and effort.

I just don't think it's right to "snort" at what other people's preferences are.

belgo, are you trying to put us all of public swimming pools?