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Date: | Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:15:16 -0500 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
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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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