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?

I am pro breast feeding (have BF my 3 all over the place) but I wouldn't in a pool as I would feel far to exposed. I would get out and put a towell around us.

In which country do you think people wouldn't gawp in this situation - whether it be in admiration/facination/noseyness or whatever.

What in the water with people doing breast stroke alongside you? No not for me but no problem with on side of pool, on bench or in changing room.

kittens, yes a cuddle would normally be enough but it (swimming) was all so new to him and as I only had one arm to cuddle him with and because he could feel my skin on him he just needed it. but less than 60 seconds and he was content, so it really wasn't about the food.

now taking those 3 words out of context changes the meaning don't you think, which is kind of judicial editing .. the sentence was "and whilst breastfeeding can be an excellent way to comfort a child it is not the only way ... and others should be employed as well .. "

and QV what exactly have I said that is incorrect?

I wouldn't feed in the water but that would be so they didn't swallow any by mistake.

well done you preggers...I remember all those feelings the first time I fed in public with my nipple shields...the second time is mcuh less stressful

I admire your ballsiness PP .

Its just not something I think I could ever see myself doing, but I can understand exactly why you did it, and good for you.

I'd probably be a bit of a shocked onlooker... after all its not a sight you see everyday.. well not in my neck of the woods anyway.

And before anyone gets on one.....

I'm BF my third who's 15 months - so hardly anti BF !

anyway my breasts pumped milk for a good 20 second and could have gone 10 metres after unlatching so I couldn't envisage me doing it ..

I would have thought it was odd to bf in a pool if I'd seen you, but I'd have kept swimming and probably lost my rhythm as I shrugged if it was 60 second and no excess fluid then I doubt anyone noticed tbh

Why should others be employed though Twiglett?...the world should is very strong and implies there is somthing wrong with bfing for comfort...which there isn't.

PP I have no problem with it - I still bf my 18 month old and I'm very obviously and hugely pregnant so I'm used to getting odd looks. However I wouldn't feed in the pool because it's against the pool rules in most places to eat or drink - partly for hygiene reasons, but also in case it makes you sleepy or vomity (not suggesting breastmilk would but that's why they have the rules). I'd prob. have sat on the benches on the side instead with a big fluffy towel to keep DD warm.

But whenever anyone gives me funny looks or makes unkind remarks I just feel sorry for them because they probably haven't had that sort of lovely nursing relationship with their children (and arguably with their parents).

speaking of judicial...what you actually said was:

"and whilst breastfeeding can be an excellent way to comfort a child it is not the only way ... and others should be employed as well ..

I'm upset = food .. not a great equation to set up IMHO.. same reason I don't give my kids chocolates when they're upset but a cuddle and attention "

The thing that I was saying is incorrect is "I'm upset = food". That's not how it is with b/feeding. Followed by "not a gret equation to set up IMHO" which goes further to suggest/insinuate that b/feeding could form 'bad habits', going on to liken giving a b/feed to giving a child chocolate when they are upset, as opposed to a cuddle - which you give - as though b/feeding isnt like that. It is. What you said is wrong. IMVHO.

I would at the pool, but probably not actually in the water. I'd take bub out to the changing room.

You are so right about the bodily fluids twiglett; if only it were like that in reality! I worked on a new build swimming pool project once and had to co-ordinate all the mechanical engineering services which meant reading a lot of the associated paperwork (I'm a structural engineer so most of it was incomprehensible); if you knew the amount ot "total dissolvable solids" that were allowed to float around in a pool before it's deemed unsafe for bathing, you wouldn't get in the water yourself, never mind take a baby in there and feed it!

euwwww daisy I really didn't need to know that

well QV IMVHO it is completely correct so pprrrrppptppttt .. off to watch a film ..

I was thinking that, lackaDAISYcal. I remember reading about the amount of faecal matter that there is in the average public swimming pool - it was surprisingly large.

I'll come back tomorrow so that I can see everyone else's 'last word on the matter' of course

but I would like to say that the difference between a breastfeed and a cuddle is the food and the suckling

I'm not sure Lynette, but I know our culture is not very used to public feeding.

twig-my boobs used to spray for miles and I wouldn't have risked it then because I would have had someones eye out, or some of the kids might have thougt it were a new water feature and started playing in it or something but they don't spray now thank goodness.

If I had anticipated it, I would have taken a towel to the poolside. I don't think it is necessary to feed in the pool, but a quick comfort suck to save the day -I wish that were the 'norm'.

Yes, b/feeding is like giving chocolate. Of course you are right

I did just this. The young pool assistant approached me and said, 'I don't think this is the right place to do that' and I was outraged.

I said, 'How DARE you? I think I'm perfectly capable of knowing exactly where and when is the best place to feed my baby and if you'd like to go and get your supervisor I will tell him or her exactly the same thing.' She mooched off red faced and I felt elated at the sheer force and passion of my righteous indignation. I knew I was right to the very core of my being and she knew I knew it.

ok, for the record, the pooey water wasn't sloshing around his lips, his head was well and truly above the water. bleugh @ swimming pool fosch.

Spidermama, the pool assistant was half right..."I dont think...." probably sums it up quite well

hurahh spidamamma, I love it.

Sorry preggers, my post wasn't so much in relation to the hygiene of feeding as to Twig's fear of bodily fluids in the pool. Sounds to me as though a good dose of breastmilk could be a good thing in the circs.

I've seen someone feeding a baby though slightly younger than that during a baby swimming lesson. No one seemed to have any issue with it.

no starlight, lol at leaning over the rubber ring thing though, blimey that takes some guts!

anyway, feeling good about it now so thanks all, off to bed now, I have had a hard day being mother earth
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