Comments on: Baby smothered on airplane: Is breastfeeding to blame?

By: Nia'sMama

Nia'sMama — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:44:14 +0000

I’m a BFing mama of my very first miracle baby (6mos). My heart aches for this poor mama. I do have an interesting perspective though. I am an H cup and I am here to tell you that BFing with very large tatas requires hyper vigilance. I could have easily smothered my daughter at 4wks. My breast was more than twice the size of her head and if I let go of it while BFing she was not yet strong enough to pull herself out from under it. I wish there was a support group for mamas with big tatas because I had no idea what I was doing ‘wrong’ that made me unable BF one handed. I refuse to cover up no matter where I am. If I cannot see my baby I cannot feed her and I don’t have an extra hand to mess with a blanket. I agree with the person who said she is appalled at the sight of a baby guzzling artificial ‘nourishment’ from a plastic teat. I’m tired a people acting like its weird or rude for me to nourish my child in a way that produces 0 waste and requires 0 government assistance. As for ‘indecency’ I would prefer my child to see a whole breast feeding a baby than a half clothed breast of some one dressed inappropriately.

By: Babywearing in the Air and at the Airport | Baby Carriers Downunder

Babywearing in the Air and at the Airport | Baby Carriers Downunder — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:36:16 +0000

[...] In light of recent events, if you are travelling with a very small baby, please be aware that the need for safe cosleeping applies on a plane as well as on land. Sleeping while you are babywearing is not safe with small babies. I believe that with a toddler it is unlikely to present a danger if you are seated on the plane, however. If you are travelling with an infant, ask for the baby bassinette when you book your ticket so that you will have somewhere safe to place the baby when you need to sleep. Travelling is exhausting for parents too! [...]

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:33:26 +0000

@coffeewithjulie:
Bayshore’s current nursing room was definitely added later than 2002. My son was born in 2004 and I think it may have been added after he was born.

By: coffeewithjulie

coffeewithjulie — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:53:32 +0000

Yes, I’ve taken advantage of the nursing areas provided for moms in malls. I didn’t mean to suggest that they don’t exist, but this store (gosh, can’t remember the name!) really went above and beyond — and I appreciated it and tried to give them my business whenever I could as a result. I always preferred using their nursing room over the mall’s option which (at least in 2002) wasn’t bad but was still located inside the women’s washrooms. I’ve never actually done the stall thing but I can certainly admit to running out to the car to nurse in private.

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:43:57 +0000

@coffeewithjulie:

All of the malls in Ottawa do have nursing rooms (not toilet stalls) for moms who wish to nurse privately. Not sure which store you are referring to, but the mall itself has a nursing room.

By: coffeewithjulie

coffeewithjulie — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:40:12 +0000

These are great! Thanks for pointing them out for me. I remember feeling so fortunate when my daughter was young that there was a swanky new store in Bayshore with its own beautiful “mother’s room” — with no toilet in sight. Beautiful chairs, soft lighting and even a tv for a nursing mom’s pleasure. Sadly, the store didn’t last here in Ottawa. Obviously, mothers can/should/will nurse wherever they and their children please (eating is a basic right, afterall!), but for me, I did love the quiet and privacy of this mother’s room.

By: Marcy

Marcy — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:19:54 +0000

I realize that is true, I just feel for any woman who has to travel that far with such a young child when she is likely to be so overwhelmed and both mentally and physically exhausted, and wish there were better ways to provide support.

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:32:31 +0000

@The Maven @coffeewithjulie:

Have you seen these great PSAs about (not) breastfeeding in the bathroom?

No need to hide

By: coffeewithjulie

coffeewithjulie — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:39:59 +0000

The Maven – I really hope this bathroom stall thing can get changed in our society too! “Drinking/eating” and “toilet” just don’t go together!

By: The Maven

The Maven — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:59:51 +0000

I’m shocked that I just found you (on Twitter) and we’re in the same city and share the same views on parenting. What on earth!?

I couldn’t agree more with your original post. In fact, I just finished a public breastfeeding rant on my blog a few minutes ago in which I admit to previously being a bathroom stall breastfeeder. The fact that I felt so judged and ashamed as a mother feeding her baby in the normal, natural way that I hid away in a stall is a sign of how unhealthy our views about breasts, nursing and sexuality are. And I do wonder if this woman was asked to cover up with a blanket for similar reasons. I also wonder how many expectant parents are going to see the ‘is breastfeeding to blame?’ slant of the articles and rethink their decision to breastfeeding.

It’s a sad, backwards society we live in.