Comments on: Friendly skies? Not always for breastfeeding mothers http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/ ...exploring the art and science of parenting Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:24:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: stacey http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150763 stacey Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:03:34 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150763 wow, thank you. you brought attention to it early on. someone was kind enough to turn me onto your blog just recently so I just started following. lots of good information here. :) thanks for the support. wow, thank you. you brought attention to it early on. someone was kind enough to turn me onto your blog just recently so I just started following. lots of good information here. :) thanks for the support.

]]> By: phdinparenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150603 phdinparenting Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:50:47 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150603 Stacey: Thank you for your comment. I wrote about your ordeal both on this blog and on Care2.com: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/11/23/too-much-power-too-little-judgment-in-the-hands-of-tsa/ http://www.care2.com/causes/breastfeeding-lawyer-mom-bullied-by-tsa-agents.html Best of luck with your lawsuit. I look forward to hearing the result. Stacey:

Thank you for your comment. I wrote about your ordeal both on this blog and on Care2.com:

http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/11/23/too-much-power-too-little-judgment-in-the-hands-of-tsa/

http://www.care2.com/causes/breastfeeding-lawyer-mom-bullied-by-tsa-agents.html

Best of luck with your lawsuit. I look forward to hearing the result.

]]> By: stacey http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150577 stacey Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:10:34 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150577 It is certainly hard being a working/pumping/traveling mom. TSA does have rules that protect us when we travel with our milk, but they are rarely implemented properly when I fly each week. Last year, I had quite a horrific episode traveling home from my work trip. I had pumped milk and requested an alternate screening, as breast milk is to be treated as a medical liquid. I was denied. I was held for over an hour while TSA basically taught me a lesson about trying to tell them what the rules were. I was able to obtain the airport video footage and my brother in law condensed it into an 11 minute youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XhnZlmLGK8 We are in the process of filing a federal lawsuit so this never has to happen again. It is certainly hard being a working/pumping/traveling mom. TSA does have rules that protect us when we travel with our milk, but they are rarely implemented properly when I fly each week. Last year, I had quite a horrific episode traveling home from my work trip. I had pumped milk and requested an alternate screening, as breast milk is to be treated as a medical liquid. I was denied. I was held for over an hour while TSA basically taught me a lesson about trying to tell them what the rules were. I was able to obtain the airport video footage and my brother in law condensed it into an 11 minute youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XhnZlmLGK8 We are in the process of filing a federal lawsuit so this never has to happen again.

]]> By: Lisa B http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150388 Lisa B Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:50:47 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150388 I will say that I have actually seen it first hand. At the zoo I saw a mother with her shirt pulled up over both breasts, her little one on her lap just looking all over the place. The mom was talking to someone else as she sat there right on the path system with both breast exposed for the entire world to see. Hey she seemed perfectly content so who am I to say. It didn't make me uncomfortable - to me it is whatever - but I could see how it could. That is the one that REALLY sticks out in my head, it was just last year. But yes 99% of the time even if the baby is uncovered you cannot see anything unless you are really invading someone's personal space. As a FF mom who did her best to BF I have NO issues with anyone BF anywhere. Again those who have issues with it, even for those few that do leave themselves completely exposed GET OVER IT. If you find it horrible LOOK AWAY! I will say that I have actually seen it first hand. At the zoo I saw a mother with her shirt pulled up over both breasts, her little one on her lap just looking all over the place. The mom was talking to someone else as she sat there right on the path system with both breast exposed for the entire world to see. Hey she seemed perfectly content so who am I to say. It didn’t make me uncomfortable – to me it is whatever – but I could see how it could.
That is the one that REALLY sticks out in my head, it was just last year. But yes 99% of the time even if the baby is uncovered you cannot see anything unless you are really invading someone’s personal space. As a FF mom who did her best to BF I have NO issues with anyone BF anywhere.
Again those who have issues with it, even for those few that do leave themselves completely exposed GET OVER IT. If you find it horrible LOOK AWAY!

]]> By: Molly A http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150360 Molly A Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:49:32 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150360 Just jumping off from Lisa's comment (not disagreeing with her *at all*) Does the whole "flashing boob" thing actually happen? I hear people talking about this all the time. Usually in the context of, "Well I don't care if someone breastfeeds as long as they're discrete and don't hang their boobs out all over the place." I have yet to see this happen. Is this actually a problem? My experience, covered or not, is that unless you actually walk up to a nursing mother, lean in really close, and stare really hard, there really isn't anything to see besides the back of a baby's head. Now granted, on planes, we're in a lot closer proximity to each other, but still. You've got to work at it to actually see boobage, and you've got to be staring really, really hard to catch that split-second flash of nipple as the baby latches/unlatches. The mythical breastfeeding exhibitionist is one cliche that really needs to be laid to rest. Just jumping off from Lisa’s comment (not disagreeing with her *at all*) Does the whole “flashing boob” thing actually happen? I hear people talking about this all the time. Usually in the context of, “Well I don’t care if someone breastfeeds as long as they’re discrete and don’t hang their boobs out all over the place.” I have yet to see this happen. Is this actually a problem? My experience, covered or not, is that unless you actually walk up to a nursing mother, lean in really close, and stare really hard, there really isn’t anything to see besides the back of a baby’s head.

Now granted, on planes, we’re in a lot closer proximity to each other, but still. You’ve got to work at it to actually see boobage, and you’ve got to be staring really, really hard to catch that split-second flash of nipple as the baby latches/unlatches.

The mythical breastfeeding exhibitionist is one cliche that really needs to be laid to rest.

]]> By: Lisa B http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150344 Lisa B Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:53:35 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150344 This is all VERY sad. I would think more & more people would be getting used to nursing moms & babies. My son is 3 and several of my friends are having babies now & they always ask if it will bother him & of course it doesn't. If he asks I just tell him that the baby is eating. I wish all people could be as accepting as a 3 year old is. He just says "oh" and moves on. I nursed my youngest on a plan and no one said a thing to me at all. I did cover up as he preferred it, but gosh people "GET OVER IT". Babies need to eat just like everyone else does. Most mom's I know are not flashing boob all over the place unless the baby pops off and starts looking around, so I really really don't get what the issues are. This is all VERY sad. I would think more & more people would be getting used to nursing moms & babies. My son is 3 and several of my friends are having babies now & they always ask if it will bother him & of course it doesn’t. If he asks I just tell him that the baby is eating. I wish all people could be as accepting as a 3 year old is. He just says “oh” and moves on.
I nursed my youngest on a plan and no one said a thing to me at all. I did cover up as he preferred it, but gosh people “GET OVER IT”. Babies need to eat just like everyone else does.
Most mom’s I know are not flashing boob all over the place unless the baby pops off and starts looking around, so I really really don’t get what the issues are.

]]> By: Elyse http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150326 Elyse Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:38:22 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150326 Wow -- its heartbreaking to see so many negative experiences, but I think the airlines have made an effort recently to improve the situation. I took a 48hr trip 18mos ago for an interview and the biggest issue I had was that the airports lacked a place for me to pump. Thankfully the USO came to my rescue. When the lady at the front desk found out AA and United told me to go pump in the family bathroom she cleared out a utility closet for me to pump in. Not ideal, but at least sanitary! The biggest relief was that I was able to carry on ALL my milk when I flew back -- it was excluded from the liquids limitations. There was even a special line at security so I didn't 'inconvenience' other passengers. When we flew this past summer we took some pumped milk in excess of 5oz for our baby and a sealed juice box for our toddler and TSA allowed us to take them through. On that same trip I fed my <3mo old during takeoff, landing, and for most of the cross country flight in the aisle seat to boot. I had no complaints from anyone. Of course I did have him mostly covered with a blanket as he sleeps really well when he's warm and fed ;) Still, I don't see the issue with BFing on a plane, even uncovered. I guess because everyone's so packed together nearby passengers can't make snarky comments out of ear shot to ease their own insecurities? I'm sure the passengers on our flight appreciated that all they heard out of my 3mo old were burps and the smacking of lips, not hungry wails. Wow — its heartbreaking to see so many negative experiences, but I think the airlines have made an effort recently to improve the situation. I took a 48hr trip 18mos ago for an interview and the biggest issue I had was that the airports lacked a place for me to pump. Thankfully the USO came to my rescue. When the lady at the front desk found out AA and United told me to go pump in the family bathroom she cleared out a utility closet for me to pump in. Not ideal, but at least sanitary!
The biggest relief was that I was able to carry on ALL my milk when I flew back — it was excluded from the liquids limitations. There was even a special line at security so I didn’t ‘inconvenience’ other passengers. When we flew this past summer we took some pumped milk in excess of 5oz for our baby and a sealed juice box for our toddler and TSA allowed us to take them through.
On that same trip I fed my <3mo old during takeoff, landing, and for most of the cross country flight in the aisle seat to boot. I had no complaints from anyone. Of course I did have him mostly covered with a blanket as he sleeps really well when he's warm and fed ;)
Still, I don't see the issue with BFing on a plane, even uncovered. I guess because everyone's so packed together nearby passengers can't make snarky comments out of ear shot to ease their own insecurities?
I'm sure the passengers on our flight appreciated that all they heard out of my 3mo old were burps and the smacking of lips, not hungry wails.

]]> By: Molly A http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150324 Molly A Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:36:52 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150324 We've travelled extensively both domestically (US) and internationally with our daughter, and we've yet to have an incident in which we were asked to stop nursing or cover up on the plane. I've also carried 15+ oz of breastmilk through TSA without incident when I was away from my baby on a business day trip. That said, I always, always, always take precautions. I'm careful to print out and carry with me the TSA rules about breastmilk, the airline-specific rules about breastfeeding, and any applicable laws for the location I am leaving and the location to which I am travelling. If I were approached about breastfeeding, I would be prepared to deal with the situation immediately. I also suspect that I send out a very clear "Do NOT mess with me" vibe in general. I suspect the fact that I do not come off as an easy target helps prevent people from approaching me. Shame, really. I've got so many good comebacks! I wonder how much of the issues above simply boil down to bullying. Some people really like to hit a soft target, which is absolutely and totally shameful. Would any of my precautions prevent me from getting kicked off a plane if an overzealous flight attendant chose to harass me? I've no idea. It probably means I'm more likely to get kicked off because I'm fully prepared to do battle over it! My advice to nursing moms who will be travelling is to carry the print-outs I mentioned above and just go for it. We’ve travelled extensively both domestically (US) and internationally with our daughter, and we’ve yet to have an incident in which we were asked to stop nursing or cover up on the plane. I’ve also carried 15+ oz of breastmilk through TSA without incident when I was away from my baby on a business day trip.

That said, I always, always, always take precautions. I’m careful to print out and carry with me the TSA rules about breastmilk, the airline-specific rules about breastfeeding, and any applicable laws for the location I am leaving and the location to which I am travelling. If I were approached about breastfeeding, I would be prepared to deal with the situation immediately.

I also suspect that I send out a very clear “Do NOT mess with me” vibe in general. I suspect the fact that I do not come off as an easy target helps prevent people from approaching me. Shame, really. I’ve got so many good comebacks! I wonder how much of the issues above simply boil down to bullying. Some people really like to hit a soft target, which is absolutely and totally shameful.

Would any of my precautions prevent me from getting kicked off a plane if an overzealous flight attendant chose to harass me? I’ve no idea. It probably means I’m more likely to get kicked off because I’m fully prepared to do battle over it!

My advice to nursing moms who will be travelling is to carry the print-outs I mentioned above and just go for it.

]]> By: Christine Carrillo http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-150315 Christine Carrillo Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:01:54 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-150315 I wanted to mention that I fly ALL the time with my two young daughters and have nursed them in countless airports and airplanes in all over the U.S. and on several continents for the past 5 years. I have never,ever had a bad experience. I publicly nursed my babies/toddlers in everywhere from church to restaurants to parks. I do not use a nursing cover or nursing shirts, but I am VERY discreet. I have never had anyone treat me with anything but respect and kindness. Even when I was nursing my 2.5 year old. My heart goes out to those who have had bad experiences, but the skies for me have always been friendly...at least while I was nursing. Crying babies are a whole other story :) I wanted to mention that I fly ALL the time with my two young daughters and have nursed them in countless airports and airplanes in all over the U.S. and on several continents for the past 5 years. I have never,ever had a bad experience. I publicly nursed my babies/toddlers in everywhere from church to restaurants to parks. I do not use a nursing cover or nursing shirts, but I am VERY discreet. I have never had anyone treat me with anything but respect and kindness. Even when I was nursing my 2.5 year old. My heart goes out to those who have had bad experiences, but the skies for me have always been friendly…at least while I was nursing. Crying babies are a whole other story :)

]]> By: Another ignorant bus driver… | PhD in Parenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/08/16/friendly-skies-not-always-for-breastfeeding-mothers/#comment-140162 Another ignorant bus driver… | PhD in Parenting Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:05:16 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-140162 [...] sure everyone has heard the stories of mothers who have been harassed on airplanes. Now, in Detroit, a bus driver tried to kick Keva Williams, who blogs at Single Mama Tales it All, [...] [...] sure everyone has heard the stories of mothers who have been harassed on airplanes. Now, in Detroit, a bus driver tried to kick Keva Williams, who blogs at Single Mama Tales it All, [...]

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