I was asked to stop BF on a flight!

[PetiteMom]

I am still very miffed about this!!

During our return flight from a week's vacation in SC, I was asked by a flight attendant to stop BF on the plane! Rosemary was nursing in my lap on the Boppy. It was just me and her in a seat of 2. I was on the aisle. This was pre-takeoff but the plane was taxi-ing toward the runway. I was wearing a nursing shirt from Expressiva.

I had my eyes half closed and she was nursing herself to sleep when all of a sudden I feel this blanket being thrown over us. I jerk my arm out to knock it away and see the flightattendant standing there. He says "I need to ask you to cover up" . I said "She doesn't like that". At that point he tries covering us up again and I knock the blanket away... he tells me that he's not trying to be rude but that I cannot breastfeed without covering up to "protect the other passengers". He wasn't just asking me to cover up -- he was telling me that I COULD NOT BREASTFEED unless I covered up!!

I had already looked up South Carolina BF laws before I went on this trip so i just said "Legally, you are not allowed to ask me to stop". He then ran off and had the pilot stop the plane!!!! He ran back to me and tried to get me to move to first class where there are "no other passengers around". I refused but told him I would move to the window seat (i didn't want to get kicked off the plane).

He ran off again and the plane started up again...

It was very awkward. My husband and Elliott were sitting 3 rows up so it was just me against the rude flight attendant. I was pretty exhausted after a week at the beach with 2 young kids so i was really close to blowing up at him but luckily I stayed very professional and calm.

I'm going to write a letter, I think. In between saying "Legally you are not allowed to ask me to stop" Itold him I would write a letter to his company regarding his poor training.

Rosemary proceeded to nurse pretty much the entire rest of the flight and he didn't say anything else to me.

This was REALLY shocking to me because I have flown many, many times while nursing my son and this was our fourth flight with Rosemary!!! Plus there was that whole incident with the woman being kicked off the Delta flight a year ago....



PS: I just edited this to add that Rosemary and I are very discreet while breastfeeding. I actually get people saying they didn't even know I was breastfeeding when they are sitting next to me at a restaurant, etc... Didn't want you all to think I was flashing everything....

[akamomma]

OMG - that really stinks. I'm so sorry that happened! I think you should write that letter.

[keri]

Wow, that is totally appalling. Please write that letter. That flight attendant should be ashamed, if not fired.

I wonder how many people would rather listen to a baby screaming through a flight because she can't nurse instead of see a mother breastfeed?

[littleyent]

I am just reading this with my mouth wide open in disbelief! I can't believe that happened to you! I'm so mad that I am speechless right now!!

[themorethemerrier]

That is just not acceptable! Babies need to nurse or take a bottle or pacifier, whatever the MOTHER chooses, so their little ears can acclimate as you take off and land. What did they want you to do, let her scream? They just had an incident where a mom and baby were taken off a flight because the baby was crying inconsolably. They just can't have it both ways!

Merri

[triplembride]

i can not believe this! and am totally freaking out now about our flight in 9 days!!

[shoebrush]

And the name of the carrier is.......

[babybobsmama]

Wow, good for you for keeping your cool! That is impressive. And you should definitely write the letter!

[PetiteMom]

And the name of the carrier is.......

United.

[ibbit]

That is insane! I'm glad you stood your ground. Good for you! Write that letter. They need to know they can't just push moms around like that.

[monkeyboymom]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so sorry you had to go through that!

[triplembride]

United.

I'll be on AA but i'm definitely going to get my argument ready just incase!

[PetiteMom]

i can not believe this! and am totally freaking out now about our flight in 9 days!!

Hopefully you won't get a misinformed flight attendant like this guy... I have been on many, many flights and mostly nursed while uncovered and never had a single problem.

[SSmom2Toby]

United.

Oh Great..that's who I am flying on Thursday when I go to Chicago! I WILL be BFing DS!!
I can't BELIEVE that happened to you!! I hope you write that letter!

[PetiteMom]

I'll be on AA but i'm definitely going to get my argument ready just incase!

Good idea. I wasn't prepared at all for this but my mind just flashed back to the SC law (which I had already looked up) so that's why I just kept saying "legally you can't ask me to stop". Hopefully the states you are visiting have breastfeeding-friendly laws, too.

[Sailorsimba]

Last time I flew I wrote an email to the airline customer service before hand so I could get their policy on it. I printed it out and carried it with me but it didn't end up being an issue.

[PetiteMom]

Who do you all recommend that I address the letter to? Customer Service at United? The CEO???

I better write it tomorrow when I'm not so miffed....

[*Christie*]

Um, the blanket was going to protect the other passengers from what??? That is so wrong. I'm so sorry that happened. Kudos to you for continuing to feed your DD!!!

[Leets]

There is a form on the United Airlines site on the customer service page that you can fill out and describe your complaint. I'd see what kind of response you get. I'd specifically ask them what their policy is on nursing during a flight. I am so sorry this happened to you! I was asked by a stranger to cover up for the first time this weekend and it really shook me up and I was at a hotel, not trapped in the air on a plane, so I can't even imagine how you felt!!

[yummymummy]

I'm so sorry this happened to me. Shame on that flight attendant! I hope you do write a letter. Let us know if you need us to write letters too. Maybe they need a nurse in!