Women Win Right to Breastfeed in Public Pool
Gemma Kelsall, and the other protesting mothers claim that the lifeguards would shout out them to leave the pool while breastfeeding, and pointed to signs that displayed a warning of "No Food or Drink Inside Pool."
The breastfeeding mothers felt that it was impractical to expect them to leave the pool in order to breastfeed, as their children would be left wet and too cold to eat. In addition, there was no written policy prohibiting breastfeeding in the public pool, so the mothers did not feel that it should be an issue
The group of Canadian women had organized a "nurse-in" where a group of mothers were to gather together to breastfeed their children in the pool. However, management has acquiesced and will allow them to continue breastfeeding in the pool after all.
The lifeguards at the pool state that breastfeeding in the pool contains health risks, including accidental water consumption, drowning, or possible vomiting or defecation in the pool after breastfeeding.
After the story was brought to the national spotlight, the city's aquatics manager, Jim McDonald, stated that the issue was simply a misunderstand, and the women can continue breastfeeding in the public pool. According to E-Ontario-Now.com, McDonald stated, "The intention of the staff is to provide information to the mothers just to prevent the possibility of ingestion of water."
But that's not the end of the story.
There's a saying, "Be careful what you wish for." Gemma Kelsall is now learning how accurate that saying is. Since being thrust into the spotlight as a self proclaimed "poster girl", Kelsall has begun receiving hate mail and is receiving a backlash of negative publicity. She says, "I've been called a pedophile, I've had people threaten to perform obscene acts one me." Kelsall went on to say that threatening messages have been sent to her Facebook account. According to Kelsall, people are outraged that she continues to breastfeed her daughter, who is 21 months of age.
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SOURCES:
http://www.eontarionow.com/national/2009/04/06/breastfeeding-moms-to-stage-pool-protest/
Published by Jennifer Wagner - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Ever since I read my first Judy Blume book as a little girl, I have wanted to write. Whether it's giving my opinion, making someone smile, or reviewing a product, writing makes me happy. My primary are... View profile
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39 Comments
Post a CommentThe whole thing's stupid, but that is what I have come to expect. Breastfeeding is fine. I don't have a problem with that. It can generally be done, anyway, with a minimum of exposure. People just want to play games. They're willing to act in a simple-minded fashion if they get the attention they seek.
I don't have a problem with breastfeeding, but what's up with the pool? All kinds of stuff is in that water....
I'm in favor of breast feeding, but not in the pool. I like the idea of being a bit more modest than that... maybe go sit down outside of the pool and at least over up a bit with a receiving blanket to not put her breast on display for everyone to see. The breast should not be sexualized in breast feeding, but it is apparently sexualized by most men and women all the time.
I find it odd that they wanted to breastfeed in the pool. If a baby is young enough to still be at the breast should they be spending that much time in a chlorinated public pool???
So the women actually breastfed in the swimming pool? When I first started to read this, I imagined that they had taken their children out of the pool and were sitting down to breastfeed. It does not seem right to breastfeed children in a pool. Breastfeeding is natural and I have nothing against it. I agree with Cathy about being discreet.
Sophie
:)~ nicely done!
I am not in favor of "in the pool" like many others who have commented. Breast feed away, but I believe a mother should do so somewhat discreetly when in public. I also think 21 months is just way too old. Would a 21-month old still be taking a bottle? Yikes...very interesting article, Jenny Girl! :)
"No Food or Drink"???? Yeah, I'm sure that's exactly what they had in mind when they made THAT rule...
I love mothers, and I'm glad that women have won the right to breastfeed in public pool. Wonderful article!
I'm glad Moms won here, but I would never breastfeed my baby inside the pool. That's just unsanitary. I agree with "No food, no drink" but it should be okay for mothers to feed outside the pool.