They’re at it again according to USA Today: “Carrying signs with slogans such as “Best in-flight meal ever,” scores of mothers breast-fed their babies at airports around the country Tuesday in a show of support for a woman who was ordered off a plane for nursing her daughter without covering up.”
Simultaneous protests were held in Vermont; Boston; Las Vegas; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville; Harrisburg, Pa.; Hartford, Conn.; Albuquerque; and Louisville.
“On Oct. 13, Emily Gillette, 27, of Santa Fe, was ordered off a Freedom Airlines plane about to take off from the Burlington airport after a flight attendant asked her to cover up while she was breast-feeding her year-old daughter.
She had been sitting on the New York-bound plane — which was three hours late in leaving — when she began nursing. The flight attendant handed her a blanket, but she refused it. She was removed from the plane along with her husband and child.
The airline later disciplined the unidentified employee. ” In many states, including New York, it’s illegal to prevent a woman from breastfeeding (or ask her to cover up or move) in a location open to the public. Viva lactation. —MEGHANN MARCO
Nursing moms rally at airports [USA Today]
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Here’s the link where I read the story. (Apologies if it doesn’t work … Boston.com, 21 Nov article, Raja Mishra byline.)
Yes, the flight attendant was reprimanded. But Delta does not plan to put policy in place to protect a woman’s right to breastfeed. Conceivably, then, this could happen again, right?
Blagh. Tried incorporating link, failed miserably.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/11/…
Yes, she was reprimanded. But no, Delta doesn’t plan to make “breastfeeding rights” a policy. So this could conceivably happen again, right?
As someone who just flew yesterday, I would like to make this little point:
I would prefer that people only use the bathroom for things that must absolutely take place in the bathroom: urinating, defecating, and washing hands. I’d rather see anything else (breastfeeding, putting on makeup) done in one’s airplane seat so the bathroom is available for those responding to nature’s call. And if you can’t wait until you’re back on terra firma to do anything else (cutting your toenails, masturbating), you’ve got bigger problems.
First, I’ll mention that I’m a mother of three, all three fed/feed the way
that our bodies were meant to be fed (ie breast milk for those of you who
are dense). ALL mammals feed via the breast. Heck, I bet you drink breast
milk from a cow, too, or at least eat products produced because of it
(cheese, ice cream, etc.). Babies bellies are made to digest mothers milk
(or is it the other way around, the milk is made specifically for babies
bellies?).
Formula is an ARTIFICIAL substitute. That means NOT NATURAL. All formula
is made to mimic mother’s milk, but falls far short. I mean, just look at
the dirty diapers of 2 infants, one that is fed mother’s milk and one that
is fed formula. The first will have an almost non smelly diaper, the second
will reek and also will cause the infant more trouble passing. There are
NUMEROUS studies that say Breast milk is best for baby, heck, most formula
commericals say that as well.
If you’re offended by a bare breast, are you offended by a man walking
around with his pants around his knees? Or someone wearing hip huggers so
their backsides hang out? How is that any different? How about classic
works of art? You know, the ones millions of children and teens are exposed
to daily in the name of an education? Just because American Society has put
a Sexual Taboo on the breast doesn’t mean it’s right.
I also want to say thanks to all of those who posted positively about
feeding in public. It is VERY hard to feed in public, espeically if baby is
figity. All we mothers who breast feed in public ask one thing, is to allow
us to feed our babies the way nature meant them to be fed, in peace. We do
not go out of our way to offend anyone, we just want what is best for our
baby.