A WOMAN has criticised a leisure centre in North Wales after she was told by a lifeguard that she could not breastfeed her five-month-old son while in the swimming pool at the facility.
Sarah Lappin was taking part in a parent and toddler swimming session at Rhyl Leisure Centre's pool on June 26 with her son, Kalel, when a lifeguard asked her to leave the pool if she wished to continue breastfeeding him.
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.
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 asked him (lifeguard): ‘Who says so?’ and he replied: ‘It’s the rules’.
“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 kept my calm and replied that I can't stop him once he’s on, because at this point, I just felt a bit on spot, with everyone looking.
“I did complain to the deputy manager; she had no idea what to say at first, but she did say she didn't see a problem and she would pull the young lifeguard about it and was very kind to me.
“I know there’s no such rule, or there shouldn't be if there is one in the leisure centre; I think it was (just) him who didn't like it - I felt so humiliated.”
On the back of this incident, Sarah has set up a Facebook page promoting public breastfeeding.
The group, entitled “Promoting Public Breastfeeding Mums Group”, can be found at: www.facebook.com/Promoting-public-breastfeeding-mums-group-104844292285832.
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She added: “I am a very proud breastfeeding mother and have been feeding for almost a decade now with five children.
“I have never come across such negative behaviour towards a mother breastfeeding her infant; I’m a very confident breastfeeding mum and I take great pride in doing so.
“I won't be so easily affected by this incident and was very calm, but if this had been a new young mum, it could well have been a different story.
“It could have spoilt a beautiful breastfeeding journey for a mother and her baby, and seriously knocked the mother’s confidence to feed in public again.
“This act is just one of the reasons mums don't want to breastfeed; because of the judgement out there and the lack of public support.
“There are people who think it’s nudity, or that it should be done in private or at least covered with a blanket or in a breastfeeding room hidden away.
“It’s wrong to think a mother has to hide to do a perfectly natural thing. It's our rights as women to feed our babies where we want, as it’s not just a source of food, it’s their comfort and makes them feel safe.
“It’s normal to breastfeed, and not something to hide in private, as it’s a perfectly natural thing to do.”
There are differing views on whether breastfeeding in a pool may be a health hazard to other swimmers.
Sarah dismissed this notion, saying that breast milk is “antibacterial and antimicrobial”, and will, in fact, protect the baby from any harmful bacteria.
“Breast milk does not pose any health hazard to other swimmers. If it did, then pools would need to ban all lactating women from using them.
“Even if any breast milk gets into the water, it is actually antibacterial and antimicrobial, and won't cause any problems.
“Also, the breast milk will protect the baby from any harmful bacteria in the water.
“The baby was in distress, as well - that's why I fed him; to calm him, and the lifeguard still asked me to stop or leave the pool, with no consideration for my stressed baby.”
In response, Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, the company responsible for Rhyl Leisure Centre, apologised to Sarah for any offence caused, adding that all of its sites support breastfeeding.
A spokesperson for Denbighshire Leisure 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.”
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