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Put those breasts away: Woman asked to cover up while breastfeeding during flight
Successfully hydrating on airplanes has recently become difficult; as an adult you can no longer bring beverages aboard. And apparently even babies have the same problem, or at least it seems so after an incident concerning a mother breast-feeding her child last week on WestJet.The Vancouver woman says that she was asked to cover up while breast-feeding during a recent flight, and that the incident has led her to consider filing a human rights complaint. After "discreetly" lifting her shirt to breastfeed her son, a flight attendant offered the woman a blanket to cover up. She declined twice, but the flight attendant insisted
"She said that some men find the sight of a bare breast quite offensive," said Ms. Tarbuck. According to the report, she wasn't even bothering the people around her; the only other people in the row were her husband and two children.
Despite what your beliefs are on breastfeeding, let me just put it this way: traveling with children is difficult, maybe we should cut these mothers some slack. Do you really want to be enduring the sounds of a hungry, crying baby during the duration of your flight???
Check out these other strange tales from the sky:
Filed under: North America, Canada, Airlines, News, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 45)
mj Aug 11th 2008 4:49PM
Some babies do not like to have something over them while they breast feed. It is our right as mothers to provide them with what they need - emotionally, physically, and mentally.
Meena Aug 11th 2008 5:13PM
Than you, Deb, have a problem. How can anyone be offended when watching a mother nursing, and deeply bonding, with her baby? It's the most natural thing in the universe and only a perverse (and very insecure) person could ever be offended by that. Men should look elsewhere if they can't stand the sight of a nursing mother. And if a woman is distressed, well, she, too may look someplace else. I nursed both my children wherever I went (born in Berlin, Germany and Montrose, Scotland), and no one ever said a word. No, I didn't have my breasts hang all over, I was discreet, but I never covered up (in Europe, we have really good clothes and bras for nursing mothers). Get over it!
Zara Aug 11th 2008 6:03PM
Do you want to eat with a blanket or towel over your face? I know I don't want to so why should babies?
Sparkles Aug 12th 2008 4:06PM
the baby's head is covering the women's breast. if it bothers people to watch maybe they are the ones who need the blanket,
jona Aug 11th 2008 10:31PM
did you know how to read? she was sitting with her family.
heidi Aug 11th 2008 10:54PM
ITA!.. you can breastfeed discreetly... I did it. I'm pro breastfeeding but these women who think they need to make a statement by showing their boobs to the world really bug me. Have some couth and cover up would ya?
Chris Aug 12th 2008 11:49AM
I just got home from a VERY long flight. It would have been better for all if one of the mothers on the flight had simply fed her child, rather than forcing all of us to endure the cries of the baby. But she didn't want to deal with pig headed people.
Julie Aug 12th 2008 10:42PM
Funny, all this talk of covering up... seems that in many countries a woman has to cover her hair or face or body from head to toe because men are offended, and yet in Western society we cry that this demeaning or oppressive. Women in western countries parade around in low cut tops that barely cover the nipple, and that's considered fine. But when a baby is feeding (and covering the nipple well!), it's considered offensive? I think western society has the big problem, not nursing mothers! Maybe if babies nursing were a more common sight that people would be used to from childhood upwards, no one would think anything odd or uncomfortable about it.
I find a baby sucking on the processed chemicals in a baby bottle offensive. Please, someone cover those babies and especially those bottles with blankets!!! I don't want my kids exposed to that filth thinking that it is normal.
chris Aug 11th 2008 12:24PM
I'm not sure who is more idiotic: those who demand that breastfeeding women cover up when in public, or breastfeeding women who steadfastly refuse to do so on "human rights" grounds.
What is it about feeding that transforms a bared breast from "indecent exposure" to a "human right"? (Or vice-versa?)
Why don't we encourage all women to publicly expose their breasts for all to see? Interestingly, exposed breasts without suckling babies are much more likely to get their bearers ("bare"-ers :-) arrested.
I don't get it. Exposure is either indecent, or it's not. Which is it?
Jeorjia Aug 11th 2008 4:44PM
Chris,
Are you familiar with breastfeeding? A breast being used for feeding can not be "seen." The nipple is being "engaged." As for the rest of the breast, I dont find that "indecent" because (lets face it) we can see AT LEAST that much on the MTV music awards.
Jeorjia
The Mommy Blawger Aug 14th 2008 11:10AM
"What is it about feeding that transforms a bared breast from "indecent exposure" to a "human right"? (Or vice-versa?)"
THE LAW, which (in most US states and many countries, and on US Federal property) specifically exempts breastfeeding from laws regarding indecent exposure, obscenity, and sexual conduct.
debbie Aug 11th 2008 3:00AM
Some babies just don't like to be covered up.
I used a "hooter hider" cover when I nursed my daughter on planes, but she was constantly fiddling with it and uncovering herself. Usually I was trying to nurse her to sleep, so it didn't seem like a great idea to force the issue, and that meant that she was sometimes (discreetly) uncovered.
I think it comes down to basic consideration. You're in really close proximity to your row-mates on a plane (which can make it uncomfortable for everyone) When I had to sit next to a stranger, I always let them know during boarding that I would be nursing, that way one of us could move if they were uncomfortable.
Once that's done, though, I don't see why this needs to be a big deal.
I've written up other tips related to breastfeeding (and pumping) on airplanes at
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/family-travel-tips/special-considerations/breastfeeding/
Nancy Aleshire Aug 11th 2008 2:35PM
I ran into a problem like that back in the 1980's when I had my babies. My husband would bring my son to me at work so I could breastfeed him on my lunchbreak. Apparently, some women were upset by my breastfeeding him (and changing his diaper) in the ladies room and the company tried to ban me. I threatened legal action, and the company nurse decided to offer me her office to breastfeed my son. Now workplaces have to provide facilities for women to breastfeed (or bottle feed) their babies. In the event where I would have to nurse my babies in a public place (like a fair or mall) I would always cover up with a blanket, and no one was ever disturbed by it.
Nancy Aleshire
Brooklyn Park, MN
ADR Aug 11th 2008 9:50PM
I totally agree with you. I have nursed three children (and am 30 yrs old presently), and those who cannot take it, should look the other way...not only is it the MOST NATURAL thing to do, you can barely ever see a breast when nursing. I have done it in public, at home with 4 brother-in-laws, in front of grandparents, strangers, etc. It is best for the baby and VERY discreet...
Those who cannot bare to see a baby nursing should not only look the other way, but get over their own indiscretioncies!!
Peace and luv to the moms and BABES!!
Karen Aug 11th 2008 7:31AM
The mother should've just covered up. She was asked politely twice. It's not like they told her to do it in the bathroom. Even if she wasn't sitting next to a stranger, only family, evidently people walking down the aisle could see the breast, otherwise the light attendants wouldn't ask her to cover up.
Yes, breast-feeding is natural, but even if she were in a mall she'd be asked to cover up in public or go to another area (not just a bathroom) that wasn't nearly as public.
And why would she file a human rights complaint? That's just dumb. It's not like they harrassed her or had her arrested for breast feeding, or even asked her to stop. They asked her to cover up. I wonder, if someone walking down the rows saw her and asked tat she cover up, would she try suing them? Maybe say that they were staring at her exposed breast and it made her uncomfortable.
terry Aug 11th 2008 3:46PM
She'd file a human rights complaint because she has the right to nurse in public. There are no "laws" that stipulate that one cannot feed ones child in a public place. As for people walking up and down the aisle, that is bs, all the flights I've been on lately request that you remain in your seat.....but most of the flight attendants that I've encountered lately have a definate attitude problem. They need to remember that the oil and gas issues that have raised prices, and dropped their salaries are not their passengers fault, nor are they their problem. Most of us are suffering different issues such as inflated prices etc due to this and are inconvenienced just as much as they are. If they don't like it, they should create an area for nursing mothers just like employers have....it's a necessary thing...deal with it.
K Aug 11th 2008 5:34PM
Covering a baby up prevents them from breathing. The human rights complaint would be for the baby- as the baby has the right to eat.
Jeorjia Aug 11th 2008 4:45PM
Karen,
No offence, but all states have laws protecting breastfeeding. She is not legally reqired to cover-up. The attendant should not have even requested that. It was very inappropriate of the attendant, and she does have the legal right to address that issue in civil court. Also, if a mother needs to breastfeed her infant in a mall they will not be asked to go somewhere else. Like I said, it is their right. The mother's right and the baby's. Would you like it if you went to a restauraunt and the waitress asked you to move because the people next to you thought you chewed your food too loud?
Jeorjia
Tadhg Aug 11th 2008 7:09PM
Not all states have have proctecting public breastfeeding... yet anyway. However, even if they did, this story may not have taken place in the U.S. The Woman was from vancouver, suggesting that it may have taken place in Canada. Her right to feed the baby in public should be law, however, common courtesy should be a moral rule... if she is offending people, cover up. There are lots of things just as natural as breastfeeding.... like sex, nudity, and a plethera of bodily functions... Legal or not, such activities should be avoided or done with discretion when it offends anyone around. It's just common decency
ADR Aug 11th 2008 9:47PM
Are you kidding?? Get over it!