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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 5 of 45)
K Aug 11th 2008 5:34PM
tire of being natural as justification for feeding in public? Oh come on, you are pathetic. Babies need to eat often and when they need to eat, they need to eat. Is a mother supposed to stay at home and not leave the whole time she is breastfeeding so that immature people who can't handle seeing one inch of a breast can be "comfortable?" And by the way, a blanket covering a baby prevents them from breathing.
Grow up and get over yourself.
pnwmom Aug 11th 2008 4:35PM
Karin - I have nursed all seven of my babies. There were a couple who absolutely refused to nurse if I covered them with a blanket. But seriously, there was no need to cover them as you couldn't see anything when I nursed my babies by lifting up my loose top. In the article, it says she was nursing discreetly. If that is true, most likely nothing was showing anyway and the person who objected was not objecting to the exposing of the breast, but the IDEA of breastfeeding. That person needs to get over it.
Another thought - I've flown a lot with my babies and the sucking definitely helps when the ears start to pop at high elevations. I wonder if the passengers would have preferred to have a screaming baby or allow mom to nurse?
KARIN Aug 11th 2008 7:24PM
I'm sorry, but simply blocking the view of my breast is NOT preventing my baby from breathing. The flight attendant did NOT tell the passenger to not breastfeed her baby. NOBODY said you had to put a blanket over the baby's head. Some of you nutters need to get an education and learn how to read.
K, Aug 12th 2008 1:32AM
I can not believe all the people I see compairing pooping and peeing to breastfeeding, or sex for that matter, they are completely different things. People just like to complain, and since BF seems to be such a hot topic why not jump on the band wagon. I've NEVER in my life seen more than an inch of boob when someone was nursing in public. NEVER. Given taht the mother lifted her shirt up to attach the baby my guess would be that the shirt was probably covering the majority of her breast, in which case, I probably saw more of a boob just by walking downt he street today seeing teens in what they wear!
I also agree that it's more often women who are offended than men. Women are just catty bitches and need to grow up. If you dont want to look at a nursling baby then DONT. No one is making you stare at them. So instead of griping, just go about your own business. If more people nursed then this wouldnt even be an issue, it woudl just be "normal" I cant wait to see the day that some mama comes running through the mall boobs a waving, with the baby attached .. Now that would be a site to see. And for the record, i have two babies who were not breastfed because of issues. You should really worry about yourself, and not the person next to you. While you are at it maybe you should go ask the scantilly clad women to cover thier clevage. That offends ME.
KARIN Aug 12th 2008 3:51AM
Jesus Christ, K! Are you STILL on my back about this? You've been at it for 8 HOURS now! Move on already! Talk about a catty bitch, like you could judge!
Michael Aug 11th 2008 2:16PM
The flight attendants request may not meet with approval of some people, but the airline has a right to set policy for behavior on their planes. It is certainly not something this woman can sue over. She was not denied the feeding of her child, she was merely asked to cover up. Also, the airline didn't kick her off or anything. The mother, at worst, only suffered a moment of embarrassment. Human rights violations cries should be leveled for FAR more serious incidents. Let's not get carried away here.
Linda Aug 11th 2008 2:18PM
People need to grow up. She was seated next to her husband and kids and wasn't bothering anyone. If anyone didn't want to see her, then they should look elsewhere! When a woman is breastfeeding, the only thing visible is a little of the skin on her breast. How is that so terrible? I've seen much more breast showing when teens wear skimpy tops to the mall and no one is complaining then.
RJ Aug 11th 2008 2:19PM
You are so very wrong with your response. There is nothing wrong with a woman covering her breast while feeding and out of respect for everyone she should graciously cover herself. This doesn't harm her or the baby and it does show respect for others.
Ordover Aug 11th 2008 4:33PM
Bottom line for air travelers: A breastfeeding baby is a quiet baby.
That said - in most of the United States, it is not only legal for a woman to breastfeed anywhere she likes, it is illegal to ask her to move somewhere else to do so, although if there are special accomodations for such they can be offered (to my and my wife's immense surprise, Men's Warehouse had a nicely decorated nursing room in back with a comfy chair and bottled water. The clerk said "Ma'am, you're welcom to breast feed anywhere in the store, but we have a lovely nursing room in back." And they did.
So to those people who keep saying "peeing and pooping are natural and I don't want to watch that either" I would like to point out that a clean, properly appointed room is provided in airplanes and elsewhere for those activities; if an appropriately appointed nursing room were also available, there would be no problem with this issue, but there usually isn't. It is no more appropriate to nurse in a bathroom than it would be to pee or poop in a nursing room.
RJ Aug 11th 2008 5:27PM
I do not know of any law that says it is illegal to ask a woman to cover her breast when breast feeding as it is a form of nudity which is illegal. Also, there seems to be a miss understanding about the original statement. The flight attendant asked the mother to put a blanket or some type of cover over the feeding baby as it was offensive to some people and the mother basically refused. In turn the flight attendant had no other choice but to demand she cover up. The flight attendant was doing her job and that is to make all passengers comfortable.
Ardover, you keep saying it is her right to breast feed and no one is denying that, we are saying only to do it modestly and not embarrass others. I for one would not like to look at your wife's boob or any one else's other then my own wife and if she were breast feeding she would cover the area.
Not all people are as open minded as you.
Derrick Aug 11th 2008 2:20PM
I think that's ridiculous. People are too easily offended nowadays.
On a side note, you may bring beverages onboard, but they have to be purchased inside security.
pnwmom Aug 11th 2008 4:34PM
There is no way I would use an airplane blanket to cover up my sweet baby. Who knows where that blanket has been or the last time it was washed? The article said the mom was nursing discreetly. Obviously, the person who objected would object to any nursing at all - covered or uncovered. That person needs to simply GET OVER IT.
bernie Aug 11th 2008 2:23PM
Wow. Some people think sex is a natural thing as well. what about children needing to walk by? They say she lifted her shirt. That does not mean she was hanging out. If her breast was expossed, she should cover it. If the baby was feeding and the shirt covered her. Move on. Why must American sue over such things? that seems petty and small to me. just fly a different carrier next time. Other people that paid their money complained. What was the airline to do? Every customers have rights they all paid the money to ride.
DIANA Aug 12th 2008 2:55AM
THERES MORE NUDITY ON A BEACH, IN THE MALL & A PETA POSTER THAN A NURSING MOTHER & CHILD. GET A GRIP. AND IT IS A DISCRIMINATION ISSUE NO MORE THAN IF IT WERE DISCRIMINATION ABOUT WEIGHT OR COLOR. IT IS AN ISSUE! SHE SAID SHE WAS NURSING DISCREETLY. IF SO, THEN SHE NEEDED NOTHING TO COVER. THAT MEANS PPL OBVIOUSLY HAD A BREASTFEEDING ISSUE NO MATTER WHAT. THAT'S IGNORANCE! THAT WAS THERE WAY OF HUMILIATING THE MOTHER. AND THAT'S JUST WRONG! AS LONG AS SHE WAS WEARING A SHIRT IT IS DISCREET. YOU SEE MORE CLEAVAGE W/ TODAYS SHIRTS. WOMEN WHO NURSE USUALLY WEAR LOOSE TOPS SO THEY CAN ADJUST TO NURSE. THERE IS NOTHING OFFENSIVE ABOUT IT. JUST PLAIN IGNORANT PPL OUT THERE THAT HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN COMPLAIN! SHAME!
DIANA Aug 12th 2008 2:50AM
OH & WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN WALKING BY? OMGOODNESS....DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT THE BABY IS EATING NATURALLY? HMMMM....WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE FOR HOOTERS JOBS? PLEASE!
BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PUT A MAN MADE (POISON) CHEMICALLY MADE FORMULA IN POISONOUS PLASTIC BOTTLES TO BE HEATED UP TO ALLOW TOXINS TO LEAK INTO THE FORMULA & THEN FEED THEIR CHILDREN. YUM.... SOUNDS GOOD..HUH? NO. WOULD YOU DRINK FORMULA? I CAN SEE IF SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT BUT TO CHOOSE TO DO FORMULA IS BEYOND ME. NURSING IS AN ART. IT IS LEARNED & NOT EASY. I GIVE ANY NURSING MOTHER CREDIT! THAT'S WHY WE LIVE IN AMERICA, SO THAT WE CAN ALL MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS & HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS. THIS IS MINE!
ARE YOU KIDDING, WHEN WE RAN OUT OF MILK MY KIDS USED THE PUMPED BREASTMILK IN THEIR CEREAL UNTIL WE GOT MILK. IT TASTES LIGHT & SWEET. AFTER NURSING FOR WELL OVER A YEAR W/ 3 KIDS....MY HUBBY GOT A MOUTHFUL ACCIDENTALLY PLENTY OF TIMES WHILE BEING INTIMATE....LOL. NEEDLESS TO SAY....HE NEVER MINDED & NEITHER DID I. WE BOTH JUST THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY.
OH & DID YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT LIVES OFF OF ANOTHER ANIMALS MILK? NOW HOW STRANGE IS THAT?!
I BREASTFED ALL 3 OF MY KIDS. MY TODDLER DAUGHTER NURSED HER BABY DOLL. HOW SWEET.
BREASTMILK HAS ANTIBODIES THAT NATURALLY FIGHT AGAINST ILLNESS ETC.... IF YOU SMELL A FORMULA FED BABIES DIAPER YOU'D PASS OUT. IF YOU SMELLED A BREASTFED BABIES DIAPER YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW IT'S NOT SO BAD AT ALL. NO WARMING, PREPARING, STERILIZING MAN MADE FORMULAS & POISONUS BOTTLES THAT LEAD TO ALLERGIES & CANCERS ETC....DOWN THE ROAD.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T LOOK!
GOD BLESS!
kimbo Aug 11th 2008 2:21PM
Since when does a breast offend a man??? Give me a break, There are titties everwhere, beach, clubs, and the streets. More can be seen on the street than than a sucking baby on a tit. If you dont like it dont look, grow some character. Let mama and baby be at peace.
tekkii Aug 11th 2008 2:24PM
I think all the other passengers should say we are going to vote on if they are bothered by baby feeding and then make the men if thats what we have to call them wear blind folds the rest of the flight !
pnwmom Aug 11th 2008 4:35PM
Or let's vote and see if the passengers would rather have a screaming baby for the flight or a happy baby nursing quietly in a row with family members?
Tadhg Aug 11th 2008 8:00PM
Why is everyone assuming its MEN that are complaining? Many women find public breastfeeding quite inappropriate.
bull336th Aug 11th 2008 2:22PM
Hey I have three children and my wife breast fed them all. I have no issues with it myself, It is better for the baby, its bonding time for mommy and child etc... but we all have to remember that now a days everyone wants to make something out of nothing. I hate to say it but this world has become a your rights (and the rights of you baby in this case) end where mine begin world. It makes everything we do much harder. I agree with the above post when the woman said she informs the people closest to her that she will be nursing so anyone that feels uncomfortable can make that known and moves can be made. By the way as a man I can tell you there is nothing sexy about breastfeeding an infant. If you are a parent you will see it for what it is a loving bond between mother and child. If you are a perv or a prude then turn around, simple solution.