Breastfeeding in a pool

angeltennis3 · June 2014

I am very curious, and since this board is pretty good about respecting everyone, I wanted to see other peoples opinions. I apologize in advance I am going to post and run because I have an event I need to attend shortly.

I am part of a facebook group of moms in my city. There are probably thousands of members. One woman posted today that she was very offended when a lifeguard asked her to nurse her baby from the deck of the pool, as she was currently nursing holding her child in the water. They did not ask her to cover up, they did not ask her to go someplace private. She just needed to be sitting on the deck.

The responders were divided. About half believed this was no big deal and not worth her getting upset about. The other half were planning a "nurse-in" they were so angry.

I am curious what our board thinks.

I lean towards it isn't that big of a deal, but I can't imagine wanting to nurse in a pool with little kids splashing all around me. If I were asked to cover up or leave the deck so I couldn't watch my other kids I would be angry for her. I also don't think I would be crazy about the baby possibly spitting up in the pool after a feeding if I was a swimmer or if my kids were swimming in the area.

Thoughts anyone?

persephonerose · June 2014

I think they probably asked her for health and sanitation reasons more than for the OMG you can't breast feed right here. I am sure public pools have set regulations and guidelines they have to follow. For example if a kid poops in the pool it has to be closed down and cleaned. It is probably the same concept for spit up or breast milk.

I don't get what the big deal is with moving and being considerate of other people using the pool.

pnwlover12 · June 2014

I have zero qualms about BFing in public. However, I think you need to get your ass out of the pool to BF in a public setting. If you own your own pool and want to - have at it. But if no one can eat/drink in the pool, that includes little babes too.

I hope I don't get flamed for this
:-\"

pnwlover12 · June 2014

FamousEa said:

pnwlover12 said:

I have zero qualms about BFing in public. However, I think you need to get your ass out of the pool to BF in a public setting. If you own your own pool and want to - have at it. But if no one can eat/drink in the pool, that includes little babes too.

I hope I don't get flamed for this
:-\"

If you get flamed, so will the three PPs before you. In fact I dare someone to flame that opinion!
Right??? I would love for there to be someone who thought this was ok

You never know when BFing comes up
:-SS

narabug · June 2014

I really don't understand why you'd want to do that in the pool in the first place. Kids splashing all around getting water in baby's face while they're eating, the chlorine on your boobs that the kid is now eating. Danger of falling and baby being submersed. Just all around a bad idea.

Maggie6424 · June 2014

BF away in public as far as I'm concerned.. but in a public pool? That's just weird. Go sit somewhere outside where people aren't splashing and trying to play.

Personally, I'd never even consider bf'ing in a pool, public or private! I don't want that water in baby's mouth.

DaniGrace89 · June 2014

I've thought about this too.

I think it's fine to nurse in a pool.
If people are concerned about the bodily fluid aspect...they should keep in mind that people pee in the pool constantly. It's not a dangerous bodily fluid by any means.

meggiev123 · June 2014

I feel strongly about women having the right to bf in public, but I don't think it's out of line to ask a woman to get out of a public pool. That said if I saw someone doing it I probably wouldn't give it a second thought.

lrobi13 · June 2014

As a former lifeguard (spent all of high school and college working at year round pools) I think I would have done the same thing as that lifeguard. There are lots of pool rules that they have to enforce.

Plus public pools are nasty and I wouldn't want to my baby eating in a pool. Breast milk or otherwise.

It would have been different if they had asked her to cover up or leave the area.

bumpuser10309732 · June 2014

lrobi13 said:

As a former lifeguard (spent all of high school and college working at year round pools) I think I would have done the same thing as that lifeguard. There are lots of pool rules that they have to enforce. Plus public pools are nasty and I wouldn't want to my baby eating in a pool. Breast milk or otherwise. It would have been different if they had asked her to cover up or leave the area.

This! Public pools are disgusting!

Emerald27 · June 2014

Safety and sanitation are actually NOT a concern with breastfeeding in a pool.

Breastmilk is not classified as a harmful bodily fluid by the CDC. Also, kids pee in pools, bleed in pools, etc. - those are classified as dangerous bodily fluids by the CDC.

The logic of telling a breastfeeding mother not to nurse in a pool just isn't there. It's safe, and by law (in most states) the breastfeeding mother is permitted to nurse wherever she and her baby are legally permitted to be present. It should be up to the mother's discretion whether to breastfeed in a pool or not.

...If you want to say no breastmilk in the pool, you'll have to take the breasts out of the pool as well. Lactating breasts leak.

Here are some links to relevant info.:

CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/protection/breastfeeding-in-pools.html

From one US state:
https://public.health.oregon.gov/healthyenvironments/recreation/poolslodging/documents/infosheetbreastfeedingatpools12062012x.pdf

Canadian Source:
https://www.bcbabyfriendly.ca/HPG9040BreastfeedinginPoolsJan0909.pdf

vrj0522 · June 2014

Emerald27 said:

Safety and sanitation are actually NOT a concern with breastfeeding in a pool. Breastmilk is not classified as a harmful bodily fluid by the CDC. Also, kids pee in pools, bleed in pools, etc. - those are classified as dangerous bodily fluids by the CDC. The logic of telling a breastfeeding mother not to nurse in a pool just isn't there. It's safe, and by law (in most states) the breastfeeding mother is permitted to nurse wherever she and her baby are legally permitted to be present. It should be up to the mother's discretion whether to breastfeed in a pool or not. ...If you want to say no breastmilk in the pool, you'll have to take the breasts out of the pool as well. Lactating breasts leak. Here are some links to relevant info.: CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/protection/breastfeeding-in-pools.html From one US state: https://public.health.oregon.gov/healthyenvironments/recreation/poolslodging/documents/infosheetbreastfeedingatpools12062012x.pdf Canadian Source: https://www.bcbabyfriendly.ca/HPG9040BreastfeedinginPoolsJan0909.pdf

So what about the no food or drink in the pool rule?

Lele74 · June 2014

I'd be more concerned about my baby gulping down the chlorinated water more than anything while she's gulping down some milk. Not even the spit up or slipping bother me.
But I wouldn't get all bothered by someone asking me to move to the deck.

pnwlover12 · June 2014

Emerald27 said:

Safety and sanitation are actually NOT a concern with breastfeeding in a pool. Breastmilk is not classified as a harmful bodily fluid by the CDC. Also, kids pee in pools, bleed in pools, etc. - those are classified as dangerous bodily fluids by the CDC. The logic of telling a breastfeeding mother not to nurse in a pool just isn't there. It's safe, and by law (in most states) the breastfeeding mother is permitted to nurse wherever she and her baby are legally permitted to be present. It should be up to the mother's discretion whether to breastfeed in a pool or not. ...If you want to say no breastmilk in the pool, you'll have to take the breasts out of the pool as well. Lactating breasts leak. Here are some links to relevant info.: CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/protection/breastfeeding-in-pools.html From one US state: https://public.health.oregon.gov/healthyenvironments/recreation/poolslodging/documents/infosheetbreastfeedingatpools12062012x.pdf Canadian Source: https://www.bcbabyfriendly.ca/HPG9040BreastfeedinginPoolsJan0909.pdf

I'm not saying breast milk should give anyone the heebie jeebies but not everyone wants to swim in someone else's breast milk. I know you made the point about kids peeing, etc. but if outwardly, someone saw a kid pee or start bleeding, they are going to tell them to get out of the pool. It's just a common courtesy thing. I mean no offense to the act of BFing in public, but I also don't think it's asking a BFing mom too much to simply sit on the ledge and do it.

*ETA*
I also wouldn't want to see a baby being bottle fed in the pool either. It's just the concept of not eating/drinking in a public swim space.

Leysin97 · June 2014

I was a life guard for years and although I never encountered this I would think it can be perceived by some as a health and safety issue. First there would be concern about the babies safety. Also although not once in pool water HIV can be transmitted through breast milk to a baby.

https://www.avert.org/hiv-and-breastfeeding.htm

https://www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/hiv.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/disease/hiv.html

I know it's not considered a biohazard I think the mental aspect of it could freak people out, plus you can't drink milk in the pool so how is this different? And although the chlorine may kill pee and other bodily fluid issues such as breast milk and blood I personally do not want to swim knowing that someone's breast milk is potentially being spilled in the water. Just like when someone pees or is bleeding and I am aware I would get out. Although lifeguards frequently check then Ph levels of pools to determine if more chemicals need to be put in there could be periods of time when then PH is not at appropriate levels, especially during busy time. That's just me though, to each her own.

HappyCianci · June 2014

pnwlover12 said:

I have zero qualms about BFing in public. However, I think you need to get your ass out of the pool to BF in a public setting. If you own your own pool and want to - have at it. But if no one can eat/drink in the pool, that includes little babes too.

I hope I don't get flamed for this
:-\"

That's a good point. I still think baby should be allowed to nurse.

Legally, baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE, so if mom's allowed to be in the pool, baby can nurse there.

Also, as for the sanitation issue, the amount of milk that *could* potentially get into the pool probably rivals the amount of, say, saliva of the swimmers diving underwater or squirting pool water out of their mouths. I highly doubt a nursing pair poses any threat to anybody's health in that pool.

pnwlover12 · June 2014

HappyCianci said:

pnwlover12 said:

I have zero qualms about BFing in public. However, I think you need to get your ass out of the pool to BF in a public setting. If you own your own pool and want to - have at it. But if no one can eat/drink in the pool, that includes little babes too.

I hope I don't get flamed for this
:-\"

That's a good point. I still think baby should be allowed to nurse.

Legally, baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE, so if mom's allowed to be in the pool, baby can nurse there.

Also, as for the sanitation issue, the amount of milk that *could* potentially get into the pool probably rivals the amount of, say, saliva of the swimmers diving underwater or squirting pool water out of their mouths. I highly doubt a nursing pair poses any threat to anybody's health in that pool.

Okay but...smoking cigarettes is "legal". However, there are many establishments where their particular rules forbid it. So if a pool sets forth the expectation of "no eating or drinking in the pool" than there is no eating/drinking in the pool. The issue of BFing being legal doesn't trump the establishment's rules.

Unknown · June 2014

This content has been removed.

HappyCianci · June 2014

pnwlover12 said:

HappyCianci said:

pnwlover12 said:

I have zero qualms about BFing in public. However, I think you need to get your ass out of the pool to BF in a public setting. If you own your own pool and want to - have at it. But if no one can eat/drink in the pool, that includes little babes too.

I hope I don't get flamed for this
:-\"

That's a good point. I still think baby should be allowed to nurse.

Legally, baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE, so if mom's allowed to be in the pool, baby can nurse there.

Also, as for the sanitation issue, the amount of milk that *could* potentially get into the pool probably rivals the amount of, say, saliva of the swimmers diving underwater or squirting pool water out of their mouths. I highly doubt a nursing pair poses any threat to anybody's health in that pool.

Okay but...smoking cigarettes is "legal". However, there are many establishments where their particular rules forbid it. So if a pool sets forth the expectation of "no eating or drinking in the pool" than there is no eating/drinking in the pool. The issue of BFing being legal doesn't trump the establishment's rules.

This is untrue. The law trumps the establishment's rules.

HappyCianci · June 2014

That's a good point. I still think baby should be allowed to nurse.

Legally, baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE, so if mom's allowed to be in the pool, baby can nurse there.

Also, as for the sanitation issue, the amount of milk that *could* potentially get into the pool probably rivals the amount of, say, saliva of the swimmers diving underwater or squirting pool water out of their mouths. I highly doubt a nursing pair poses any threat to anybody's health in that pool.

It is exactly this mentality that drives me crazy and makes people think pro BFers are nuts and therefore gives us all a bad name. This idea that "I'm not going to let anyone question my right to breastfeed" gives breastfeeders a bad name. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. Legally, I can do all sorts of things that I just shouldn't do because it's not polite/nice/good/or the right thing to do. The pool can say no eating in that pool and that applies to babies, regardless of a mothers right to breastfeed. One of the articles Emerald linked to even talks about how, while safe for other swimmers, it isn't safe for baby to breastfeed in a pool, do I say, get out of the damn pool and think about someone/something other than your own butthurt feelings.

The problem is culture-wide intolerance of breastfeeding and it shows so clearly in this language. It is NOT "impolite" or "not nice" or "not good or right" to nurse your baby. Period. Anywhere. We have a lot of work to do.

For the record, I would not nurse in a pool. I wouldn't want my baby getting chlorine in his/her mouth. But that's my prerogative.

golfingdarwinfish · June 2014

A few weeks ago someone on Dec13 posted a pic of a woman breastfeeding while riding a bike. I guess the law would be behind this if it truly translates to, "baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE", but a) that doesn't mean that it's safe, b) doesn't mean it should be done, c) doesn't mean the woman couldn't be tried (or at the very least investigated) for negligence or some other applicable count (I'm not a lawyer so I have no idea what the possible counts could be) if something went wrong and the child was fatally injured.

Just because something is legal doesn't mean that common sense should fly out the window....

HappyCianci · June 2014

VCGolfNYC said:

A few weeks ago someone on Dec13 posted a pic of a woman breastfeeding while riding a bike. I guess the law would be behind this if it truly translates to, "baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE", but a) that doesn't mean that it's safe, b) doesn't mean it should be done, c) doesn't mean the woman couldn't be tried (or at the very least investigated) for negligence or some other applicable count (I'm not a lawyer so I have no idea what the possible counts could be) if something went wrong and the child was fatally injured.

Just because something is legal doesn't mean that common sense should fly out the window....

OK, but the questionable behavior is having a baby riding precariously/unsafely on a bicycle, not that the baby is nursing.

ETA: To situate this in the broader discussion, we shouldn't confuse reckless parenting with breastfeeding. The two might coincide, but when they do, only the recklessness is to blame, not the breastfeeding.

golfingdarwinfish · June 2014

HappyCianci said:

VCGolfNYC said:

A few weeks ago someone on Dec13 posted a pic of a woman breastfeeding while riding a bike. I guess the law would be behind this if it truly translates to, "baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE", but a) that doesn't mean that it's safe, b) doesn't mean it should be done, c) doesn't mean the woman couldn't be tried (or at the very least investigated) for negligence or some other applicable count (I'm not a lawyer so I have no idea what the possible counts could be) if something went wrong and the child was fatally injured.

Just because something is legal doesn't mean that common sense should fly out the window....

OK, but the questionable behavior is having a baby riding precariously/unsafely on a bicycle, not that the baby is nursing.

So nursing isn't at all a distraction that could keep the mother from looking at the road for a few moments, or perhaps lose her balance?

pnwlover12 · June 2014

HappyCianci said:

pnwlover12 said:

HappyCianci said:

pnwlover12 said:

I have zero qualms about BFing in public. However, I think you need to get your ass out of the pool to BF in a public setting. If you own your own pool and want to - have at it. But if no one can eat/drink in the pool, that includes little babes too.

I hope I don't get flamed for this
:-\"

That's a good point. I still think baby should be allowed to nurse.

Legally, baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE, so if mom's allowed to be in the pool, baby can nurse there.

Also, as for the sanitation issue, the amount of milk that *could* potentially get into the pool probably rivals the amount of, say, saliva of the swimmers diving underwater or squirting pool water out of their mouths. I highly doubt a nursing pair poses any threat to anybody's health in that pool.

Okay but...smoking cigarettes is "legal". However, there are many establishments where their particular rules forbid it. So if a pool sets forth the expectation of "no eating or drinking in the pool" than there is no eating/drinking in the pool. The issue of BFing being legal doesn't trump the establishment's rules.

This is untrue. The law trumps the establishment's rules.

Ok, yeah, shitty wording. I know that law trumps all, but what I was trying to get at is that there are certain rules and regulations that apply to everyone if you want to be a patron at an establishment. So like I said before, if there is no eating in the pool, there is no eating in the pool.

pnwlover12 · June 2014

HappyCianci said:

That's a good point. I still think baby should be allowed to nurse.

Legally, baby can nurse anywhere mom is allowed to BE, so if mom's allowed to be in the pool, baby can nurse there.

Also, as for the sanitation issue, the amount of milk that *could* potentially get into the pool probably rivals the amount of, say, saliva of the swimmers diving underwater or squirting pool water out of their mouths. I highly doubt a nursing pair poses any threat to anybody's health in that pool.

It is exactly this mentality that drives me crazy and makes people think pro BFers are nuts and therefore gives us all a bad name. This idea that "I'm not going to let anyone question my right to breastfeed" gives breastfeeders a bad name. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. Legally, I can do all sorts of things that I just shouldn't do because it's not polite/nice/good/or the right thing to do. The pool can say no eating in that pool and that applies to babies, regardless of a mothers right to breastfeed. One of the articles Emerald linked to even talks about how, while safe for other swimmers, it isn't safe for baby to breastfeed in a pool, do I say, get out of the damn pool and think about someone/something other than your own butthurt feelings.

The problem is culture-wide intolerance of breastfeeding and it shows so clearly in this language. It is NOT "impolite" or "not nice" or "not good or right" to nurse your baby. Period. Anywhere. We have a lot of work to do.

For the record, I would not nurse in a pool. I wouldn't want my baby getting chlorine in his/her mouth. But that's my prerogative.

I want to bang my head into the wall. Once again, the issue is not about breastfeeding. It's about not feeding/eating/drinking in a public swim space.

angeltennis3 · June 2014

Very interesting comments!

I tend to agree that just because something is legal doesnt make it the appropriate action to take. But really, who is the judge of what is the appropriate action?

End of day I certainly hope the moms in that group take a chill pill and let this one slide. Advocating for breast feeding rights is important but I think in this case it is a social, not a legal, line that really would hurt the image more than help for a mothers right to breast feed.

Emerald27 · June 2014

angeltennis3 said:
Very interesting comments!

I tend to agree that just because something is legal doesnt make it the appropriate action to take. But really, who is the judge of what is the appropriate action?

End of day I certainly hope the moms in that group take a chill pill and let this one slide. Advocating for breast feeding rights is important but I think in this case it is a social, not a legal, line that really would hurt the image more than help for a mothers right to breast feed.

Was this really posted today on FB? Because this exact same thing was posted in a FB group I'm a member of at the beginning of June. Wouldn't that be a crazy coincidence?

I do see where the posters in this thread are coming from, but IMO it really should be up to the discretion of the mother where she nurses her baby.

HappyCianci · June 2014

The problem is culture-wide intolerance of breastfeeding and it shows so clearly in this language. It is NOT "impolite" or "not nice" or "not good or right" to nurse your baby. Period. Anywhere. We have a lot of work to do.

For the record, I would not nurse in a pool. I wouldn't want my baby getting chlorine in his/her mouth. But that's my prerogative.

I want to bang my head into the wall. Once again, the issue is not about breastfeeding. It's about not feeding/eating/drinking in a public swim space.

I liked your point about the sense and rules about not eating in a public pool, but I disagree that it renders this particular issue "not about breastfeeding". Since there's no law about older people being allowed to eat wherever they're allowed to be present, that leaves it up to establishments to make those rules. Establishments don't get to make rules about breastfeeding, because it's legally protected.

I don't know if this is a great analogy, but it came to mind: an establishment can make rules disallowing pets, but cannot make rules disallowing service animals. The law recognizes that the needs of some people are different from the needs of the majority. Babies definitely have different needs from say, a guy with a cheeseburger.

I still think it's bad judgment to nurse in a public pool. I wouldn't do it for the health of my baby. That doesn't mean the lifeguard is allowed to decide.

vrj0522 · June 2014

HappyCianci said:

The problem is culture-wide intolerance of breastfeeding and it shows so clearly in this language. It is NOT "impolite" or "not nice" or "not good or right" to nurse your baby. Period. Anywhere. We have a lot of work to do.

For the record, I would not nurse in a pool. I wouldn't want my baby getting chlorine in his/her mouth. But that's my prerogative.

I want to bang my head into the wall. Once again, the issue is not about breastfeeding. It's about not feeding/eating/drinking in a public swim space.

I liked your point about the sense and rules about not eating in a public pool, but I disagree that it renders this particular issue "not about breastfeeding". Since there's no law about older people being allowed to eat wherever they're allowed to be present, that leaves it up to establishments to make those rules. Establishments don't get to make rules about breastfeeding, because it's legally protected.

I don't know if this is a great analogy, but it came to mind: an establishment can make rules disallowing pets, but cannot make rules disallowing service animals. The law recognizes that the needs of some people are different from the needs of the majority. Babies definitely have different needs from say, a guy with a cheeseburger.

I still think it's bad judgment to nurse in a public pool. I wouldn't do it for the health of my baby. That doesn't mean the lifeguard is allowed to decide.

So you are saying that the baby nursing inside the pool is a need?

Emerald27 · June 2014

I think the breastfeeding rights issue comes up because since a mother and her baby are permitted to be in the pool, and some babies root to nurse in water and/or desire the comfort and consolation of the breast in such a new environment, whether it is gross to some and fine to others, it should be up to the mother whether or not she chooses to breastfeed there or whether she wants to stop playing in the water with baby every single time and get out to nurse.

Oftentimes this sort if nursing is not a 20-minute feeding session, but a quick latch-on here and there for comfort. Not that that makes a difference.

True, most mothers might choose not to breastfeed in the water. They might worry about baby getting splashed (which is a risk of playing in the pool anyway) or about being more exposed than they wish (if you like to wear a cover, that's awful difficult in the water), or they might rather sit down to nurse rather than nurse standing in the water.

Other mothers, however, might decide that part of helping baby become used to or enjoy the pool is allowing them to nurse there. The risk of breastmilk entering the pool can't be the concern, because lactating breasts leak...so if a lactating mother is in the pool, whether nursing or not, milk will enter the water. Indeed, it is a super small quantity of milk entering the water, unlike food or drink in a container that could spill. Whether or not it is "gross" is also up to mother's discretion.

This is a more difficult and charged issue than I expected (and interesting that it became so heated), but I really do strongly feel that it should be up to the individual mother whether or not to nurse in a pool.

Emerald27 · June 2014

FamousEa said:
@emerald27 I respect your opinions, I always do. I'm not sure if I was reading it wrong or if I came across wrong. I don't think that the BF part is gross, just the public pool. It's obvious we all have different opinions about this and that's ok. I'm all for BF wherever it doesn't bother me at all, that being said it wouldn't bother me if I was asked to sit on the deck of the pool instead of the water. I would just assume that the pool had rules and just because I am a BF mother doesn't mean that I am immune to rules.

That makes total sense! I can also understand how a mother nursing her baby in a pool might be offended if she was asked to get out. Again, I totally see where you all are coming from. Many many mothers wouldn't feel comfortable nursing in a pool...I guess for me, if you want to nurse in a pool it's NBD.

I totally don't mind agreeing to disagree on this. Honestly, it seems to me at least to be a silly little thing to be all bothered over.

HappyCianci · June 2014

I've enjoyed the debate, mamas, and I think we're on the same page on the surface, at least. Most of us agree we wouldn't nurse in a public pool.

Still, I'm not that interested in whether or not the the behavior is "gross." Some moms feed their babies in public bathroom stalls. That's gross too, but it's totally sanctioned. (And it's sometimes where they are asked to go. Ironic, right?)

What's more important about the pool incident is whether or not it's allowable--so it really does concern breastfeeding "rights." I put "rights" in quotes because it isn't just a legality issue, it's in our hearts and guts, which is why so many of us feel strongly about it. Including, probably, the lifeguard, and surely the mom. They're the main players here, not the law (yet?)

Anyway, like @Emerald27 said, nursing in a pool is actually NBD. If our society was more relaxed about breastfeeding in general, we wouldn't have so many upsets like this. Nursing would just be normal and invisible. We would no longer be scandalized by seeing women nursing in "new" places.

I've got to jump on the agree-to-disagree train and say farewell to this thread, now. My parents are visiting tonight from out of state, so I have to spend the day making our house look like a real grown-up house, and cooking delicious food! See you in another thread.

lrobi13 · June 2014

All I can add is we had this kid(5-8 years of age) that came to the pool everyday. And everyday he threw up in the pool. He was nicknamed the salad shooter. I wouldn't want to be in that water nursing child! You just don't know what has taken place in the water and people are nasty. Yes, chemicals kill a bunch but what if they guards at the pool are lax. Do you check the reading to make sure that the PH and the chlorine levels were ideal...probably not.

My concern would never be the breast milk in the water, that is just silly but all the things!

HappyCianci · June 2014

FamousEa said:

@HappyCianci‌ what's for dinner?

Southwestern black bean soup with sour cream and cheese.

I'm also making ahead blueberry muffins for tomorrow's breakfast. Mmm!

pnwlover12 · June 2014

I guess my issue is that if the BFing community wants BFing to be looked at as just feeding your child (which it most def is) than moms need to use common sense with it. That's why I think it all relates back to it being an issue of eating in the pool, NOT a bfing issue. I guess I just don't understand why if a baby wants to nurse, it has to be done in the pool - just because mom and babe are already in there. If I take my 2.5 year old to the pool and she wants some milk, she will have to get out of the pool to get it. Sure, it would be easier to just let her drink it in the pool, but that is not something you do. I don't think being a baby (or having a baby) should overrule this. I can't think of a lot of situations where BFing a baby could impact someone else like it could while being done in a pool.

And @Nicb13‌, I would rather swim in BM than blood or pee too, but it doesn't mean I want or should have to swim in it.

Emerald27 · June 2014

@theresat858‌ I don't really get what you're saying about the chlorine...it's not like you're drinking the pool water, and baby is very likely to get *some* pool water in his/her mouth just by playing in the water. Maybe I'm just not picturing this right, but it seems to me that the amount of chlorine on your nipples would be very minimal, especially with baby hanging out in the pool anyway.

When I BFed my son in the pool, I don't even think I had gone underwater or that the top of my suit and my breasts were even wet...but my son, who had been splashing in the water and having a grand time was covered head to toe in water, and his face was all wet.

Swallowing pool water/chlorine seems to be more an argument for keeping baby away from a pool than for not nursing in the pool. Just my $0.02.

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