A controversial post on parenting sight Mumsnet has lead to a fiery online debate, and it all began with a ‘funny, lighthearted conversation’.
One mother explained to the online forum that every Friday evening she goes swimming along with her partner and their child, adding that she is confused on the etiquette surrounding wearing a tampon while menstruating and swimming.
‘My sister told me it was vile for me to swim whilst bleeding,’ she wrote. ‘My friend disagrees and said it’s fine.’
The mother added, ‘I did go swimming as my period was pretty much over (day 5). Would I swim whilst heavy? I would say no I wouldn’t.
‘Would you?’
The post was meant with disgruntled users, claiming it ‘wasn’t fair on the others swimming.’
‘Don’t swim without a moon cup or tampon, it’s disgusting, no one wants your bodily fluids in their face, this also extends to peeing in pools,’ one user wrote, with another adding, ‘Without a tampon would be extremely antisocial.’
Another angry user wrote, ‘And this is why I am grossed out and won’t swim. People are grim.’
Finally, one user fumed, ‘You’re unreasonable to be swimming when you have blood flow, yes. I can’t believe you would even contemplate doing this.’
Some other mums, however, agreed that it was fine to swim without a tampon.
One wrote, ‘If you’re on your lightest, spotting days then you are not being unreasonable. I free bleed on my lightest days.’
‘You’re swimming in chlorinated water I assume? If so then I don’t see an issue, I personally wouldn’t because I hate swimming and take any excuse to avoid it,’ another response read.
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
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