pumping etiquette - is there an appropriate reply?
May 28, 2015, 2:00 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 355
upper deck and two women in front of me had heated and loud
argument over which was best for babies.... breast milk or formula
in a bottle. At one point, it appeared that they were about to start
a fist fight over it, until the flight attendant cooled them down.
Wish I took more than just a couple of years of German so I could
understood more about what they were saying.
May 28, 2015, 2:40 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
- to pump, you need at least 30min block of time. when traveling, knowing for certain you can stay put for 30 min is sometimes very difficult to plan for. i've had time while traveling that a 45min flight was the only 30-min period i had within a 2-3 hour window (between security, gate changes, boarding, delays, takeoff, landing, waiting for gate, tight connection, etc).
- pumping in lav - i've done it. some FA are very helpful and look out for you. others less so. i've had people banging on the door irate that i was hoggin the lav (esp on a small plane with 1-2 bathrooms). another issue is turbulence and seatbelt signs. as soon as it goes on, some FAs were demanding i stop and return to my seat. once you are hooked up to the pump, you can't just hit "pause".
- pumping in lav - i've done it. some FA are very helpful and look out for you. others less so. i've had people banging on the door irate that i was hoggin the lav (esp on a small plane with 1-2 bathrooms). another issue is turbulence and seatbelt signs. as soon as it goes on, some FAs were demanding i stop and return to my seat. once you are hooked up to the pump, you can't just hit "pause".
May 28, 2015, 3:24 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
as a traveling, pumping mama, i'd like to add my $0.02. besides all that has been mentioned above:
- to pump, you need at least 30min block of time. when traveling, knowing for certain you can stay put for 30 min is sometimes very difficult to plan for. i've had time while traveling that a 45min flight was the only 30-min period i had within a 2-3 hour window (between security, gate changes, boarding, delays, takeoff, landing, waiting for gate, tight connection, etc).
- pumping in lav - i've done it. some FA are very helpful and look out for you. others less so. i've had people banging on the door irate that i was hoggin the lav (esp on a small plane with 1-2 bathrooms). another issue is turbulence and seatbelt signs. as soon as it goes on, some FAs were demanding i stop and return to my seat. once you are hooked up to the pump, you can't just hit "pause".
-i've pumped in seat and i can assure you this was my absolute last choice when i couldn't come up with any other feasible option.
-pumping schedule is pretty tight. early on, you may feed every 2 hours (and that's from start to start, not from end to start), so you have 1 hr max maybe between end of one feeding to start of another. pumping has to stay on same schedule or else you may loose your supply.
-airport is not always easier to pump. most airports don't have private bathrooms/rooms. regular bathrooms usually lack electric outlets or any place to put the pump (it doesn't reach if placed on the floor and you can't keep all parts on your knees as things will fall). gate areas are usually pretty crowded and even more exposed being out in full view of multitudes of people.
i don't know any pumping mother who likes to travel and deal with pumping, but due to lack of maternity leave in the US, for some of us it's the choice between having a job or not.
- to pump, you need at least 30min block of time. when traveling, knowing for certain you can stay put for 30 min is sometimes very difficult to plan for. i've had time while traveling that a 45min flight was the only 30-min period i had within a 2-3 hour window (between security, gate changes, boarding, delays, takeoff, landing, waiting for gate, tight connection, etc).
- pumping in lav - i've done it. some FA are very helpful and look out for you. others less so. i've had people banging on the door irate that i was hoggin the lav (esp on a small plane with 1-2 bathrooms). another issue is turbulence and seatbelt signs. as soon as it goes on, some FAs were demanding i stop and return to my seat. once you are hooked up to the pump, you can't just hit "pause".
-i've pumped in seat and i can assure you this was my absolute last choice when i couldn't come up with any other feasible option.
-pumping schedule is pretty tight. early on, you may feed every 2 hours (and that's from start to start, not from end to start), so you have 1 hr max maybe between end of one feeding to start of another. pumping has to stay on same schedule or else you may loose your supply.
-airport is not always easier to pump. most airports don't have private bathrooms/rooms. regular bathrooms usually lack electric outlets or any place to put the pump (it doesn't reach if placed on the floor and you can't keep all parts on your knees as things will fall). gate areas are usually pretty crowded and even more exposed being out in full view of multitudes of people.
i don't know any pumping mother who likes to travel and deal with pumping, but due to lack of maternity leave in the US, for some of us it's the choice between having a job or not.
While I've never ran into this when flying, I'm sure I'll be more understanding going forward having at least some idea of what its like.
May 28, 2015, 5:58 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 355
May 29, 2015, 12:57 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
If the lady pulled her boob out in row 5 and showed the guy next to her it would be a huge issue however attach a breast pump on to it and it's ok to pull your boob out.
We had that happen at work. One lady started to use a breast pump at the crowded lunch table without even turning away for privacy. I don't want to see your boobs as I eat my ham and salad roll. Someone else said the same thing so although we had to put up with the noise she turned away so we didn't have to see anything.
We had that happen at work. One lady started to use a breast pump at the crowded lunch table without even turning away for privacy. I don't want to see your boobs as I eat my ham and salad roll. Someone else said the same thing so although we had to put up with the noise she turned away so we didn't have to see anything.
May 29, 2015, 1:40 am
#38
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Zealand/ UK
Programs: NZ, EK, QF, SQ.
Posts: 776
I'm sure that pumping on a flight was not that woman's first choice, but it might have been her only choice.
Travelling without her child, early in the morning, her breasts would have been full and uncomfortable. Someone who's experienced that would understand just how uncomfortable it can be. (Been there, experienced that.)
If the flight took place at a time when she would normally have been feeding her child, her breasts could have "let down" and leaked milk onto her clothes - embarrassing and uncomfortable. It's not like controlling your bladder - a woman can't prevent this from happening. (Been there, had it happen.)
While I sympathise with the OP's desire to sleep on that flight, I sympathise even more with the woman.
Travelling without her child, early in the morning, her breasts would have been full and uncomfortable. Someone who's experienced that would understand just how uncomfortable it can be. (Been there, experienced that.)
If the flight took place at a time when she would normally have been feeding her child, her breasts could have "let down" and leaked milk onto her clothes - embarrassing and uncomfortable. It's not like controlling your bladder - a woman can't prevent this from happening. (Been there, had it happen.)
While I sympathise with the OP's desire to sleep on that flight, I sympathise even more with the woman.
May 29, 2015, 2:00 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Norway
Programs: Eurobonus Silver
Posts: 59
I should maybe have pointed out in my post that I'm a woman, and a mother of two.
I live in a city where you even at some public coffee shops get a free cake for breastfeeding, but still understand that this is not the case in the rest of the world and some might find it uncomfortable to witness someone pumping if they didn't cover themselves. Again, I'm sure she would have preferred to do it elsewhere (not the lavatory) and I don't see any mentioning of her not trying to cover up, as it was the sound that was the complaint here, not whether he saw or not saw her breast.
I am sorry the OP didn't get any sleep, but there are a hundred other reasons why his sleep could have been interrupted (it's a flight and a public place) so my sympathies also lies with the woman here. And as already mentioned, a lavatory is not a proper place for pumping, as it is not especially hygienic and it would block the access to the lavatory for quite an amount of time.
I live in a city where you even at some public coffee shops get a free cake for breastfeeding, but still understand that this is not the case in the rest of the world and some might find it uncomfortable to witness someone pumping if they didn't cover themselves. Again, I'm sure she would have preferred to do it elsewhere (not the lavatory) and I don't see any mentioning of her not trying to cover up, as it was the sound that was the complaint here, not whether he saw or not saw her breast.
I am sorry the OP didn't get any sleep, but there are a hundred other reasons why his sleep could have been interrupted (it's a flight and a public place) so my sympathies also lies with the woman here. And as already mentioned, a lavatory is not a proper place for pumping, as it is not especially hygienic and it would block the access to the lavatory for quite an amount of time.
May 29, 2015, 3:37 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
I am not a women but I do work in the baby product sector and we have worked with a number of breast feeding bloggers and actively promote mums right to Breastfeed.
I know from this and my wife's experience that breastfeeding is not easy, especially to begin with and many women have a perception that is is second nature and get distressed when they find it is not.
Any number of factors can reduce milk flow one of the big ones being irregular feedings (or pumpings), so there is good reason for a mum to need to pump on a plane. A build up of milk can also lead to the painful condition of Mastitis , which 1 in ten breastfeeding mums will get at some point. Mum's are not doing this to annoy anyone, they are simply doing what they feel is best for their baby.
We may not all be a mum but we were all at one time a baby, it would be great it we could have a bit more empathy.
Not every mum can breastfeed and no one should be made to feel guilty for not Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has some advantages, but formula is not bad.
I know from this and my wife's experience that breastfeeding is not easy, especially to begin with and many women have a perception that is is second nature and get distressed when they find it is not.
Any number of factors can reduce milk flow one of the big ones being irregular feedings (or pumpings), so there is good reason for a mum to need to pump on a plane. A build up of milk can also lead to the painful condition of Mastitis , which 1 in ten breastfeeding mums will get at some point. Mum's are not doing this to annoy anyone, they are simply doing what they feel is best for their baby.
We may not all be a mum but we were all at one time a baby, it would be great it we could have a bit more empathy.
Not every mum can breastfeed and no one should be made to feel guilty for not Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has some advantages, but formula is not bad.
May 29, 2015, 3:46 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: AA
Posts: 286
May 29, 2015, 4:25 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
I'm a woman, my post below. I don't think it is ok.
If the lady pulled her boob out in row 5 and showed the guy next to her it would be a huge issue however attach a breast pump on to it and it's ok to pull your boob out.
We had that happen at work. One lady started to use a breast pump at the crowded lunch table without even turning away for privacy. I don't want to see your boobs as I eat my ham and salad roll. Someone else said the same thing so although we had to put up with the noise she turned away so we didn't have to see anything.
We had that happen at work. One lady started to use a breast pump at the crowded lunch table without even turning away for privacy. I don't want to see your boobs as I eat my ham and salad roll. Someone else said the same thing so although we had to put up with the noise she turned away so we didn't have to see anything.
May 29, 2015, 5:10 am
#43
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Norway
Programs: Eurobonus Silver
Posts: 59
I think that your example is not quite comparable to the one presented by the OP. A woman in a lunch setting will most likely have other options on where to pump, and it's a setting where people are sitting directly across from each other with the intent of sharing a meal. On a plane there is not many other places to go and as already pointed out its not always possible to pump whenever one would like. And it was the sound not the view the OP was concerned about.
May 29, 2015, 5:43 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
I think that your example is not quite comparable to the one presented by the OP. A woman in a lunch setting will most likely have other options on where to pump, and it's a setting where people are sitting directly across from each other with the intent of sharing a meal. On a plane there is not many other places to go and as already pointed out its not always possible to pump whenever one would like. And it was the sound not the view the OP was concerned about.
May 29, 2015, 6:10 am
#45
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
Men need to understand that western society has elevated breastfeeding from a simple mammalian function to near holy act. Therefore, we cannot under any circumstances proffer even the slightest criticism of breast feeding no matter how, where and why it occurs. Noise, awkwardness, unsightliness are to be quietly tolerated. Avert your eyes, turn up your headset and carry on.