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29/06/2008 |
SueArchdall
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Emily experienced a number of firsts this week. We flew to Spain for our first family holiday in the sun. She was nervy on the plane and screamed when the plane pressurised. But I kept feeding her breast milk knowing that swallowing can relieve the pressure and it seemed to do the trick. After the initial tears she slept for most of the flight. We were given a small seat belt that attached to mine so she could sit on my lap.
I had planned for the sun and bought Emily her first bathing suit and child's sunglasses that wrap around your head and fix on with velcro at the back. The sunglasses have received a number of comments from local passerbys who obviously haven't seen too many small babies wearing sunnies.
I had wanted to buy Emily a cute bikini or one-piece number to match the sunnies but went the sensible route to protect her from the sun and bought an all-in-one wetsuit-like swimsuit. It is pink striped and reminiscent of a Victorian bathing costume. Emily's first dip in the pool went down well - she didn't cry or scream and seemed to enjoy floating and being towed around by Mum or Dad. We told her it was a gigantic bath.
While I was fully equipped to protect her from the suns rays with 50+ sunscreen, I hadn't properly considered the effect of the heat. It has been clear blue skies and an average temperature of 30 degrees. She looked miserable slumped in our rented stroller, sweat trickling down her sunscreen-painted face. I made sure we walked in the shade and regularly gave her a bottle of cold water.
I have been impressed with the breast feeding facilities in Spain or I may have been lucky with the shopping centre that we visited near Alicante. They had a room for feeding and I also saw another mother happily feeding in a restaurant.
I am comfortable feeding in public but wasn't ready for the reaction I received last week from a couple of English school girls. We were on a crowded train and Emily was hungry. Usually I manage to find a quiet seat but the train was full with a school trip of 10-11 year old girls travelling in London. I was embarrassed when two of the girls shielded their eyes from my breast.
They had adults with them who admonished them. But you can't really blame children if they are uncomfortable with the sight of a breast - if it was a more widespread practice then it would not be remarked upon. |
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