This week is National Breastfeeding Week, and more than 120 countries around the world celebrate the beautiful act of a mother breastfeeding her newborn baby.
While breastfeeding is a natural act, it should go without question a mother should have the right to breastfeed her baby wherever she’d like, without shame.
But unfortunately, one mom was absolutely humiliated for trying to bring a breast pump and a small cooler of breast milk onto the plane, and you won’t believe how the airline treated her.
This young mom, Kelsey Myers, did her research.
She checked the airline policy, which clearly stated the breast pump was a medical device.
Confident in her item limit, the mom went to board the plane with her breast pump and milk in hand, when the male gate attendant told her she had to check her bag.
Kelsey Myers remained calm, and insisted she was allowed to carry on her breast pump.
The gate attendant still refused, and made her wait for a supervisor.
And when the female supervisor arrived, nothing prepared this poor mom for the public humiliation she was about to face.
Parents reported:
“I waited until his supervisor Juliette arrived,” Myers notes. “She did not even ask me the situation, but instead immediately told me I need to check a bag. I again told her it was a medical device and I needed to carry it on.
She started yelling at me to check the bag. In a condescending tone, she screamed in front of about 50 people waiting to board the flight ‘how many boobs do you have.’ I have never felt more harassed, disrespected and humiliated in my life. She would not reason at all and continued to scream at me in front of everyone so I eventually just gave in and checked my bag. I’m shocked that a supervisor would show such disrespect. I’m also very surprised that a supervisor would have no knowledge of what seems to me like a simple policy.”
This poor mom was so defeated, and embarrassed, she ended up checking her bag.
This supervisor acted completely out of line, and had no right to force this mom to choose between boarding a plane, and carrying a breast pump.
Some people find breastfeeding “offensive”, when it is a natural act that should be embraced and celebrated.
There is nothing more beautiful than a mother bonding with her baby.
But as Mommy Underground previously reported, sadly this isn’t the first time a mom has been discriminated against, for feeding her baby.
One restaurant asked a mom to “cover up”, humiliating the mom so much, she took her baby and left.
Another woman was shamed for breastfeeding her baby in a public place.
A mother should not have to choose between feeding her starving baby, and enduring public shame.
There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding, and the unfair stigma against moms who breastfeed needs to stop.
Moms should have the confidence to go out in public, and care for their babies at the same time.
What do you think about the mom who was asked to check her breast pump and breastmilk?
Should the airline company be held accountable for the way they treated this young mom?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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