Molly,
If this mother would like to email me directly, I'd be happy to put her in
touch with Emily Gillette, the mother involved in the recent incident that
made headline and spurred the Nurse-In. If she could write up her incident
with dates, etc, the moms that participated in the Nurse-in would be glad to
include her case in whatever lobbying activities that happen from her on in.
They would be a good support network for her.
Janice Reynolds
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Molly Shakar Rn, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:15 PM
Subject: another airline incident
> Hi everyone,
> I am sorry this is lenghty but this mom is so upset I thought I could ask
> for
> some advice.
> I have the moms permission to post.
> This mom came to me today very upset about an incident this summer
> during her travels from Atlanta to Miami.
> This is from the letter that was sent to the airline by the husband:
> While the plane was sitting on the runway my wife mom began breastfeeding
> our 5 month old. When the flight attendant began cross checking she came
> up to my wife and told her " you need to cover up". My wife refused and
> asked her why. She stated that it (breastfeeding) was offending the
> majority
> of the passengers and again repeated loudly her command to cover up. She
> refused. She went and got the captain. The captain approached us and
> asked if she would like a blanket and she refused the offer. They both
> walked
> away and left us alone. At this point my wife was in tears and totally
> humiliated as many of the passengers were staring at her. My wife has a
> doctorate in early childhoon education and believes that covering up
> isolates
> the baby and disrupts the communication between the mother and baby. She
> was properly dressed for discret nursing.
> At the end of the flight I approached the captain and asked if the
> airline
> had a policy regarding breastfeeding and he did not know of one. He also
> was
> sympathtic, apoligized and expressed regrets for the situation. During
> the
> flight several passengers expressed thier support for our situation.
> We ask for an apology from the airline and assurance that managment
> will
> prevent this type of harrassment to occur again to my wife or any other
> breastfeeding mother.
> Today the mom was more upset with the response she received from the
> airline and that is what she wants some advice about.
> The reply stated:
> The flight attendant reported that when she first saw you nursing your
> infant,
> your entire breast was exposed. At the same time she witnessed a pair of
> young boys(minors) who were amused and being entertained by the exposure.
> She reported that she no problem with mothers breastfeeding in flight,
> however she considered your level of exposure to have been indecent in
> such
> a public setting,especially with children in the immdiate area. she
> reported
> that she discreetly advised you to cover up a bit and you became
> belligerant
> with her and refused to. As you were non compliant with her instructions,
> she
> asked the captain to discusss the matter with you as to reinforce the need
> to
> nurse yor baby with some discretion and privacy. She merely advised you to
> breastfeed with some consideration for the privacy of other in the small
> confines of a commercial aircraft. This is consistent with their
> policy--we do
> allow mother's to breastfeed thier infants, provided it is accomplished
> with a
> degree of modesty so as not to be offensive to others.
> It continues
> Flight attendents are the authority in the passenger cabins, and it is
> important
> to remain compliant with instructions at all times. This authority is
> supported
> by Federal Air Regulation 91.11 which indicated that persons who appear
> threathening,intimidating or otherwise interefering with a flight crew are
> subject to serious consequences. Our flight attendant did not advise you
> to
> stop breastfeeding your baby, but as much as you refused to cover-up as
> she
> and the captain requested, you were considered non-compliant with crew
> instructions and thus non-aligned with this regulation.
> All the family asked for was an apolgy from the airline and all she
> feels
> they did with their reply was place blame on the mom.
> Any thoughts? Any advice?
> Thanks so much for your time with this lenghty post.
> Molly Shakar RN, IBCLC
>
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