November 22nd, 2006 at 12:16 am
The Washington Post reports that “nurse-ins” were scheduled last month at over 30 airports around the country. The mothers were protesting airlines that moved nursing mothers onto later flights when the mothers refused to cover up.
I am well aware of the benefits of breast feeding for children. Nursing them during take-off and landing is fine by me and probably saves the eardrums of your neighbor. Of course it’s natural. So is urination. Nobody wants to see that either, and nobody is making mothers nurse in the lavatory (which would violate FAA regulations regarding take-off and landing 
).
Maybe the flight attendant was a little out of order offering the mother a blanket because some airline blankets are heavy. Even a heavy blanket, though, can be held so that it doesn’t smother the child.
The decision to move the mother was appropriate, because she chose to abide by the airline’s rules when she purchased the ticket. She chose to board the plane. She chose to disregard the sensibilities of other people on the plane. The flight attendant tried to be accommodating, but it seemed this woman was trying to make a point. Breastfeeding may be a beautiful thing between mother and child; between mother and the rest of the plane, not so much.
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November 22nd, 2006 at 12:46 pm
meh… I think we’re generally a little too uptight about the breastfeeding thing. And, by the way, when a woman is breastfeeding, her breast is not exposed.
Does the airlines have pre-published rules about breastfeeding that she “chose to abide by?”
And how was “the rest of the plane” viewing her breastfeeding? Everyone standing up and turning around? Kind of an unruly group…
November 22nd, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Sorry, once again I disagree with Scott. I don’t see anything wrong with a mother throwing a light blanket over her shoulder when she is nursing in a public place. I don’t see anything wrong with a nursing mother respecting others’ feelings. Of course, I apparently wasn’t as adept as Scott’s wife at not exposing my breast at all. I used a blanket if I absolutely had to nurse in public, but I preferred to do it privately. At Cedar Point, say, they’ll let you nurse at the First Aid stations if you ask.
Since Dan brought up urinating, when DH and I were in Germany, we once witnessed a man relieving himself between two parked cars. While I couldn’t actually see anything exposed (of course, I tried hard not to look!), it wasn’t exactly an inspiring sight.
November 23rd, 2006 at 8:04 am
Oh Dan. Did the people on the plane want to listen to a crying baby? Lots more breast is exposed on billboards, by the teenage girl sitting next to you, and just about everywhere. We use breasts to sell all sorts of products, but using them to feed a baby is offensive?
Yes, the formula companies have really done their job. Not only is Nestle killing babies in third world countries by selling formula to mothers who have no access to clean water and sanitation, but — they’ve made breastfeeding ( which is normal) a shameful act.
Send the moms to the filthy restroom to nurse.
I wish I lived close to an airport. I’d go and nurse my 3 year old.
November 23rd, 2006 at 8:08 am
How can you guys compare eliminating a waste product with producing food for a baby?
November 23rd, 2006 at 8:39 am
I only used urination to refute the argument that an action should be considered decent and inoffensive because it is among the body’s normal operations.
I didn’t say, don’t feed babies in your seat (2nd paragraph). It’s possible to be good to your child and good to your neighbor who doesn’t want to see it.
I am dreading the thought of my girls as teenagers.
I have told many a person that by that time I hope to have built a deck in front of the house where I can sit in my rocking chair and clean a double-barrel shotgun all day long, just to convey the right message to boyfriends and prospective suitors.
There are times and places to be offended. I agree, there are worse things out there. If the airlines change their policy, it’s not the end of the world. Just because we are dulled in other areas doesn’t mean we have to be dulled in all areas.
November 23rd, 2006 at 9:25 am
I really don’t want to see anyone’s breasts, Polly, teenagers or otherwise. I didn’t want anyone to see mine either. I breastfed both of my daughters for a year each, so I’m definitely in favor of breast feeding. So don’t drag out the “Nestle kills infants in third-world countries” schtick, please. It’s not that I don’t care; it’s that I’ve heard it ad nauseum for at least 15 years now. Take it up with Nestle. What does it have to do with this discussion anyway?
Dan, my husband wanted to buy a Mossberg auto-loader as soon as the ultrasound told us we were having a girl.
He’s definitely protective of his two little girls.