Should mums should be allowed to breastfeed in swimming pools?

Sarah Lappin says a lifeguard asked her to leave the pool if she wished to continue breastfeeding her son Kalel.

Sarah, who lives in Rhyl, reasoned that she has breastfed all of her five children in that same pool, adding that there is no such rule prohibiting her from doing so.

It is legal to breastfeed in public places anywhere in the UK - although swimming pools have their own guidance about what is allowed.

Sarah Lappin breastfeeding her son. Photo: Sarah Lappin

Sarah said: “I’m stood up so my baby is away from water, of course, and I'm soothing him as he was upset, and it’s the way I know best to stop him crying and make him feel safe.

“I carried on feeding my baby as I know there's no such rule, and have done it with five children now for nearly a decade in that same pool.

“Moments after, he whistled at me again, and said I will have to leave if I carry on breastfeeding in the pool.

"I felt so humiliated.”

Almost 200 Rhyl Journal and North Wales Pioneer readers had their say on our Facebook pages:

• Carys Jones-McNeil said: "I never had an issue breast feeding either of mine in public, but equally I would not have nursed in the pool, I always got out of the pool."
• Felicity Ann Riley: "I love how people think that breast milk is going to be the worst thing in the pool they’re swimming with. Feed where you need to mamas.
• Hazel Mal Davies said: "No, it's wrong. Why on earth would you even think that's ok. Get out the pool then breastfeed. Don't contaminate the water. Unfortunately this is one of the reasons why breastfeeding is not always condoned."
• Abbey Jones said: "So not only does that baby need feeding which is the issue of the milk going in the pool, the baby also needs burping after etc, if that baby is sick, after it's feed, they would be forced to shut the pool for everyone just because one parent didn't want to get out and sit on the beaches provided to feed her baby. Not to mention the risks of baby inhaling water as feeding that's full of chemicals. I would personally class that as selfish, a parent myself, I am 100% behind the lifeguards decision. You're not allowed drinks by the pool unless in a non spill container."
• Kirsty Rayner said: "You can’t eat or drink in a pool , or feed a baby with a bottle so why would breast feeding be any different? If the baby is sick or milk leaks, the pool has to be shut and cleaned ! This is nothing against breastfeeding at all, I don’t know ANY pool that would allow it.
• Chelsea Clarke said: "No one commented on this post is against breastfeeding. I’m not a parent but have worked with children/babies/parents since being 16. My closest friends are breastfeeding mums but they all all agreed that if this baby was being bottled fed in the pool the same rules would apply and you’d be asked to get out . No one is asking you to hide yourself It’s health and safety at the end of the day."
• Kye Lloyd said: "I breast fed all 4 of mine. In public, however I would not have done so in a pool. I would have got out the pool. You cannot eat or drink in a pool. Also what if the baby was sick after burping, would she has just washed that off in the pool. Sorry I agree with the life guard, sit out of the pool it's not hard."
• Beccy Galeandro said: "I have absolutely no problem with breastfeeding in public - I think it's amazing. However whilst stood in the water? I don't think it's appropriate just like it wouldn't be to stand in the water bottle feeding, or eating a ham butty. There's no food or drink to be consumed in the pool by anyone, but can't see a problem if she'd got out and sat at the side of the pool? Think the lifeguard may have been right but should have explained the no food and drink in the water better."
• Georgina Vandervis said: "People are all about breast is best....until you have to breastfeed your baby then obviously no you can't...We can't win! But it's a societal play unfortunately..."
• Amy Baker said: "You go girl. People need to realise it’s life and the baby needs feeding no matter where you are."
• Rachel Jones said: "No no no...I'm pro breastfeeding and breast fed when swimming but always got out the water. Because after a feed my baby would likely be sick and no one deserves to swim in my baby's milky vomit."
• Mandy Moo said: "There aren’t even any benches at the pool side, good on her she was doing her job of being a mum and feeding her child."
• Leah Victoria Jones said: "Breastfeeding is a beautiful and natural thing. But it's a safety issue in a pool - no one can eat or drink in a pool. You wouldn't bottle feed in a pool."
• Huw Rees said: "No one else's business, why can't people just let people get on with it? There was no harm to anyone."
• Rachel Jones said: "I am not against breastfeeding but I agree it is not suitable to do it in a pool...breastfeeeding is feeding end of and you don't eat or drink in a pool no matter what age."
• Leanne Fisher-Williams said: "If there is a distressed baby what’s wrong with feeding them it’s natural? Why should a mother have to hide and feel embarrassed about feeding NATURALLY? Breastfed mummy’s don’t scowl and make bottle fed babies feel like crap. So what’s the problem? Where’s the support gone in the world? I’m shocked that there is so many woman against breastfeeding in public. When our body’s naturally make it. What has happened with women supporting women? Mind blown!"
• Sarah Osborn-Smith said: "Lucky I wasn’t there. He would have had the sharp end of my tongue. Who does he think he is‼️ That’s what you get when you don’t educated children properly. They end up thinking that milk only comes from bottles on supermarket shelves. The world is going mad."
• Vix Kennedy said: "Public breastfeeding is one thing, appropriate breastfeeding is another. Would you eat your dinner in a pool, no, don't breastfeed in one. It's common sense, don't feed where you wouldn't eat your dinner yourself."
• Vivien Edwards said: "No one moans when women go topless but for strange reasons object when using them for what they were meant for. What a crazy mixed up world!"
• Amy A Richmond said: "I used to love feeding my babies in the bath, but the pool with chemicals, not really ideal, I think on holiday in the sea or your private pool fine, but as the baby latches on and off, mine used to spray or leak, so I feel that is not thoughtful to other swimmers or the hygiene of the pool, but I commend any mother for breastfeeding and I’m sure she just wanted a happy full baby."

Denbighshire Leisure, who manage the pool, said that it would take further advice on whether to adjust it's rules.

A spokesman said: “All of Denbighshire Leisure’s sites support and encourage breastfeeding, including on the poolside at our leisure centres.

“On this occasion, one of our lifeguards asked a mother who was breastfeeding her child within the swimming pool to exit the water.

“We do not prevent any person from breastfeeding in our facilities, but on this occasion, the breastfeeding was taking place in the water.

“It is very unclear whether or not a baby should or should not be fed in the water due to conflicting views on the health risks and the heightened risk of vomiting in the pool which would result in a pool closure.

“We will, therefore, take further advice from healthcare professionals and adjust our policies and training accordingly based on the advice we receive.

“We apologise for any offence this may have caused.”