I just want to thank you and all the other mothers who have paved the way to making this a more feeding-friendly world!

I’ve been asked to stop nursing before (Frontier Airlines) because it was a “safety issue.”

In our case I was told that nursing the baby I was holding on my lap during takeoff was a “safety issue.” I’m not exactly sure why holding a baby upright as opposed to 3 inches down and cross nursing would make any difference to safety (I’d think they’d be equally unsafe, if anything.)

I told the attendant that out of the roughly dozen flights we’d taken with many airlines, never before had this issue come up. She was quite insistent (I personally think it had more to do with me nursing a 16 month old than nursing on take off.) Anyway, I politely refused, citing a screaming child is worse than a nursing child. She was displeased, but went away.

I was angry with Frontier Airlines, because REALLY? I simply decided I wouldn’t be flying them again since I really do have a choice with whom I fly. I’ll always remember her stupidity. And I’m glad I had the guts to tell her she was being silly.

The first few times, my husband was with me so I sat in the window seat and he sat in the middle seat. We sat next to a pilot. When Willow was getting too hot under her cover, I took it off after latching her on. The next few times, I was by myself and sat in a seat with a male passenger. I breastfed Willow the entire flight and she slept the entire flight and I chatted to the passenger next to me. The good news is that he was still completely engaged in conversation, didn’t feel uncomfortable and didn’t make me feel uncomfortable.

Breastfeeding is just feeding from the breast and people who think it should be something we need to hide in closets, bathrooms and rooms for, obviously have a discomfort level with a baby feeding at the breast. I would encourage those people to dig deeper and ask themselves, “Why am I feeling uncomfortable with this baby breastfeeding? What is it about the act that gets my back up?”

Breastfeeding women aren’t saying, “LOOK AT MY BOOBIES!” when they feed their children. I was one of those seriously shy people who would change in bathroom stalls at the gym because I didn’t want people seeing my bra and underwear. After I had a baby and knew that I was going to breastfeed, I still was a bit nervous at first about breastfeeding in public. However, over time, convenience trumps self-consciousness and when I need to breastfeed Willow on a plane or in the mall or wherever else it happens, I do it and I am as discreet as possible but I will certainly NOT run off to a closet, a bathroom, etc. just because other people may not have figured out how to be comfortable with it yet.

Great post, great conversation and keep bringing light to these situations Annie — people need to see how difficult it is to FEED your child.

It’s one thing to support them Paul, but to have a fetish and take advantage of these women? Shame on you. You may claim to be a Dr. but give us a break.

I’ve seen plently of women breastfeed in public and only two of them made a huge deal of it and then got offended when asked to cover up a little. You do not need to bare both breasts in public to nurse. Get over it already, have some common sense.

i have to agree there are many other things that you could do instead of getting offended .. ie bring a book, music, something to occupy yourself