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Okay, I'm not over this.
"The Wellington City Council said breastfeeding while in the water posed a risk of contamination."
Not only is banning breastfeeding probably illegal, the decision shows a whole lot of ignorance about the basic mechanics of lactation.
"The Wellington City Council said breastfeeding while in the water posed a risk of contamination."
Not only is banning breastfeeding probably illegal, the decision shows a whole lot of ignorance about the basic mechanics of lactation.
Some reality checks for the council:
1. When breastfeeding, milk generally goes into the mouth of the child, not all over the place. It's the sucking of the child that pulls the milk out of the breast.
1. When breastfeeding, milk generally goes into the mouth of the child, not all over the place. It's the sucking of the child that pulls the milk out of the breast.
2. The most likely route for breastmilk to get into a pool isn't breastfeeding, but a) lactating bodies just being there, with the odd leak and b) babies spilling or spitting after a feed.
But see 3 below:
But see 3 below:
3. Even if some breastmilk ends up in the pool, there would be MUCH less breastmilk than, say, sweat, saliva, or nasal mucous. You've seen people sneeze in pools, right?
(Not to mention wee.)
The fact is that BODIES contaminate pools. That's why we use chlorine.
(Not to mention wee.)
The fact is that BODIES contaminate pools. That's why we use chlorine.
4. There's a pretty obvious reason the Human Rights Commission @NZHumanRights clarifies that breastfeeding discrimination = sex discrimination.
https://www.hrc.co.nz/files/5314/2378/0071/14-Dec-2005_16-09-38_breastfeeding_flyer_English.pdf
If you ban breastfeeding (in your café, pool, or courtroom), you are mostly banning women.
https://www.hrc.co.nz/files/5314/2378/0071/14-Dec-2005_16-09-38_breastfeeding_flyer_English.pdf
If you ban breastfeeding (in your café, pool, or courtroom), you are mostly banning women.
5. Parents and babies are human beings. They are allowed to be in public places.
Swimming pools exist to serve the public - not the other way around.
Swimming pools exist to serve the public - not the other way around.
Oh, also: breast milk is sterile and nutritious. Unlike mucous, sweat, and wee.
So maybe it's not actually a problem?
@WgtnCC, you need to do better thinking on this one, and get better advice - both legal and physiological.
So maybe it's not actually a problem?
@WgtnCC, you need to do better thinking on this one, and get better advice - both legal and physiological.
OOH it turns out I'm not done.
The World Health Organisation says that breastmilk is the ideal food for babies, and that feeding on demand is awesome.
We live on islands.
Our children deserve to feed when they're hungry AND be comfortable in the water.
The World Health Organisation says that breastmilk is the ideal food for babies, and that feeding on demand is awesome.
We live on islands.
Our children deserve to feed when they're hungry AND be comfortable in the water.
When I was with my babies and toddlers at the pool, I would have to breastfeed them every single time. I mean, they see those delicious milk-makers in togs, they're gonna want some, right? Or just get hungry. Or fall over and need a cuddle and a feed.
IT'S JUST NORMAL LIFE.
IT'S JUST NORMAL LIFE.
