As annoying as the sounds from the pump may have been for the OP :rolleyes:, I for one would have found it MUCH more tolerable than listening to someone's loud chainsaw snoring, screaming baby, loud breathing....

I did not read all the responses so sorry if mine is a duplicate. I think the OP would not have a problem with "the noise" if the noise was someone's leaking headphones, or a too-loud conversation behind him. I think his real issue is that fact the noise had to do with breasts and breastfeeding.
As someone said no way this lady preferred (at her leisure, just because she felt like it) to pump in that place, at that moment. It was a necessity for a variety of reasons (same way OP has his variety of reasons for doing the things he does that annoys others) and the OP should have just gotten over himself.

Would the OP have been so upset if the woman was pumping with her
breasts exposed? :confused:

So not true!

If the mother doesn't pump when she needs to pump the milk will come out. The breast does not require "subatmospheric pressure".

Leakage in lactating mothers is typically caused by oxytocin-related milk ejection reflex, rather than internal pressure created due to engorgement caused by excessive milk production. Neither are affected by changes in ambient air pressure for the same reasons I stated previously.

"Subatmospheric pressure" refers to the negative pressure applied directly to the teat by the suckling infant or pump. Again this pressure differential isn't affected by changes in ambient atmospheric air pressure, such as occurs in pressurized aircraft or driving through changes in altitude.

You can read more on the "subatmospheric pressure" effect here if interested. In this discussion, and others like it, there is no mention of ANY impact on breastfeeding mechanics due to changing ambient atmospheric pressure.

I honestly don't feel obligated to defend the topic one way or the other, other than keeping the discussion based on actual physics and human physiology. The previous statements that prompted my posts don't meet that criteria.

Well gee, WWGuy... I don't feel obligated either......:D

Being a guy you have never experienced this obviously.

Welcome to the world of mommy wars and real mom guilt.

It's become quite sad and disappointing actually but yes, this topic gets very heated very fast.

To the OP: every flight I'm on has somebody making some kind of annoying noise. You can either spend your time and energy fussing about it, learn to ignore it or, as many others suggest, get headphones.

To those who believe that pumping involves "Pulling out the boob" - just because one woman did it that way doesn't mean it's an inherent part of the process. It can be done quite discreetly, and really isn't relevant here as I think the OP said he had to turn around to even see the woman.

Obviously. But what does that have to do with the facts I presented, or the lack of same from you?

ewww yuck. No way would I pump in the germ factory that is a lav - be it on a plane, in an airport, or in my own home

Exactly - for anyone who has never had engorged boobs, you have no clue what it feels like. I wore ice packs in my bra for 3 days when I stopped breastfeeding due to the intense pain of engorgement.

Plus if you don't pump or feed regularly, your supply will be interrupted and affected. Some women can never recover the supply and thus would be forced to move to formula sooner than they wanted

Yes to both points

Hear hear

You can take coolers thru security and if it is a short flight - no issue. But like the OP said, pump and dump is also not uncommon if you are pumping to maintain supply

Plus IMHO, Americans are just to hyper about boobs. Guess what?! Boobs are natural, normal, and not solely for your sexual excitement.

BTW - I'm a woman. I only breastfeed for a few days for a whole host of reasons. I support women's right to choose breast-milk or formula according to their own needs and wishes.