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More fun with breasts

Posted on Nov 16th, 2006 by Debi : Mother and More Debi
I swear, there is more to my activism than breastfeeding, but I just HAVE to post this. Momsrising.org is asking us to fight Delta Airlines' nasty breastfeeding policy. Apparently, some woman was nursing her baby on a Delta flight, back in a corner, when a flight attendant gave her an airline blanket and insisted she cover her breast with it. When the mother refused, she was escorted off the airplane.

First of all, airline blankets are dirty. I would never put one right where my baby's lips were going to be.

Secondly, neither of my babies would have ever allowed a blanket over their face while they nursed. Doodlebug would have fussed and whined, and Little Shmoo would throw an absolute tantrum if I tried it. I myself don't enjoy having a blanket over my face for any reason, let alone while I eat. Ok, so I've never tried eating with a blanket over my face, but even so...

Finally, it's legal for a woman to nurse her baby anywhere in the state of Vermont, where the plane was at the time. Escorting her off of the plane was probably illegal, and she's pressing charges, so GOOD FOR HER. Please go to the Momsrising.org site and sign the petition supporting her. Shame on Delta!

On a similar note, a friend of mine just took a flight with her 15 month old baby (who, for what it's worth, does not nurse). The woman seated next to her took one look at the baby quietly seated two seats away in my friend's husband's lap and started muttering. Among the audible comments she made to herself and the flight staff were "If I had wanted to sit with a child on my flight, I would have HAD ONE," "I paid good money for this ticket and this is UNACCEPTABLE" and, when my friend took the baby into her own lap, "I would appreciate if you didn't let IT touch me!!!"

Fortunately, a man seated a few rows up heard the commotion and volunteered to trade seats with Cruella/Mrs. Hannigan, so the flight was not a constant flow of negative energy for my friend, but I still can't understand this attitude. All of us were children once. Why are there so many people out there who are unable to be flexible about their needs?

Ok, I'll step off my soapbox now. Please go sign the petition, ok?


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