pumping etiquette - is there an appropriate reply?
May 29, 2015, 6:50 am
#46
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May 29, 2015, 7:08 am
#47
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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.
May 29, 2015, 7:14 am
#48
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Yes, because you know the details of her life and what's going on with her body.
You were annoyed by something someone else was doing on a plane? Shocking. Suck it up and deal. You're talking about 90 minutes of discomfort.
The lack of empathy on this board, between threads like this and threads about someone with a medical condition asking if they can encroach on someone's arm rest, or a parent asking people to move to sit with a child, makes me worry for humanity.
The constant theme seems to be that the other person should have prepared better, or not expected people to help them out, or somehow you're all living in a David Mamet movie and everyone is out to scam you. Ayn Rand would be proud.
Hopefully, when the end times come, I'll be no where near you people. It's going to be Lord of the Flies pretty quickly with you.
David
You were annoyed by something someone else was doing on a plane? Shocking. Suck it up and deal. You're talking about 90 minutes of discomfort.
The lack of empathy on this board, between threads like this and threads about someone with a medical condition asking if they can encroach on someone's arm rest, or a parent asking people to move to sit with a child, makes me worry for humanity.
The constant theme seems to be that the other person should have prepared better, or not expected people to help them out, or somehow you're all living in a David Mamet movie and everyone is out to scam you. Ayn Rand would be proud.
Hopefully, when the end times come, I'll be no where near you people. It's going to be Lord of the Flies pretty quickly with you.
David
May 29, 2015, 7:26 am
#49
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This whole thread would indicate that you can criticise. There are good moral and health reason why women should breastfeed or pump as and when they need to, it's not like they are doing it for fun. I think there are many worse problems to be found on board your average flight, and if you are really bothered the most mature thing to do is ask the CC politely if you can be moved.
What is the "moral" reason to breastfeed/pump in public? The health reasons make sense but "moral?"
May 29, 2015, 12:00 pm
#50
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The fact that the woman was breast pumping is pretty much irrelevant. This is a noise issue on a plane. You can replace 'pumping' with anything that makes noise: snoring, talking, eating, nail clipping.
The OP asks:
I'm just wondering if it woulda been ok to let her know the pumping was annoying? Have you met people? Strangers at that! You wanted to sleep right? What if you made noise when you slept...can someone wake you and ask you to stop? I'm sure you would have been able to tell her the pumping sound was annoying but I'm not sure you'd like her response.
As it turns out, I just stayed quiet and chose not to address the issue. Again, I didn't want to be the "insensitive DUDE" who doesn't value nursing mothers........ thoughts on this delicate issue? The issue is actually that you wanted to sleep but there was noise around you. Unfortunately you would have been the 'insensitive DUDE' had social media caught wind of the situation as it is wont to do. You wouldn't get any sleep and you'd be known as the guy who hates mothers. (For the record I don't think of you that way!
)
If you fly often enough you could look into some handy headphones that block out most stuff around you and the next time someone is pumping (or snoring, talking or nail clipping) that will fade into the background as you fall deep into your slumber!
PS: Nail clipping is the worst!
The OP asks:
I'm just wondering if it woulda been ok to let her know the pumping was annoying? Have you met people? Strangers at that! You wanted to sleep right? What if you made noise when you slept...can someone wake you and ask you to stop? I'm sure you would have been able to tell her the pumping sound was annoying but I'm not sure you'd like her response.
As it turns out, I just stayed quiet and chose not to address the issue. Again, I didn't want to be the "insensitive DUDE" who doesn't value nursing mothers........ thoughts on this delicate issue? The issue is actually that you wanted to sleep but there was noise around you. Unfortunately you would have been the 'insensitive DUDE' had social media caught wind of the situation as it is wont to do. You wouldn't get any sleep and you'd be known as the guy who hates mothers. (For the record I don't think of you that way!
) If you fly often enough you could look into some handy headphones that block out most stuff around you and the next time someone is pumping (or snoring, talking or nail clipping) that will fade into the background as you fall deep into your slumber!
PS: Nail clipping is the worst!
May 29, 2015, 12:57 pm
#51
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I apolagise if I come across as self righteous, I completely get the noise issue, I am a light sleeper normally have difficulty drifting off on flights at the best of times. I personally feel this is one of those things which we have to accept, it does not happen very often (I don't recall being near a mum who needed to pump during a flight) and there are worse things for keeping you awake on a flight.
May 29, 2015, 11:51 pm
#53
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Cabin pressure is typically around 25% below sea level pressure. If the source pressure hasn't changed (and it likely won't until she pumps), then the pressure difference between inside and outside has increased by 25% as the plane's altitude has increase. Larger pressure difference will lead to faster flow. I have no experience at all with the details of pumping, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if the change in cabin pressure caused discomfort that led to needing to pump, even if she had done so earlier near sea level.
May 30, 2015, 1:20 am
#54
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May 30, 2015, 2:50 am
#55
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In any case, perhaps she was just pumping in order to either maintain her supply, or to relieve discomfort. In both those cases, she could have been planning to pump and dump.
May 30, 2015, 7:48 am
#56
Join Date: Feb 2015
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No need to keep it cold. It was only a short flight and milk does not go "off" in such a short time.
In any case, perhaps she was just pumping in order to either maintain her supply, or to relieve discomfort. In both those cases, she could have been planning to pump and dump.
In any case, perhaps she was just pumping in order to either maintain her supply, or to relieve discomfort. In both those cases, she could have been planning to pump and dump.
at least according to this woman
(video contains talking on the plane only... no display of breasts or breast pump
May 30, 2015, 8:31 am
#57
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Lots of pumping moms travel with a small cooler and get ice for a post-security restaurant to keep milk cool. That, or pump and dump as others mentioned.
May 30, 2015, 11:35 am
#59
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- 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 30, 2015, 1:45 pm
#60
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I have custom-made earplugs for the shape of my ear. The main reason I have them is to be able to swim after having had eardrum surgery [that wasn't a fun experience :-( ] but I've come to find that wearing them on planes feels amazing!! It's so much quieter for me now.
