AIBU to think KLM's breastfeeding 'policy' is absurd?

[Celebelly]

'Breastfeeding is permitted at KLM flights. However, to ensure that all our passengers of all backgrounds feel comfortable on board, we may request a mother to cover herself while breastfeeding, should other passengers be offended by this.'

This was posted on their official Twitter today.

'Permitted'. Thank god it's 'permitted' to feed your child.

AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

@crispysausagerolls my thoughts exactly

'if you are offended by BF'ing, please tell a member of cabin crew who will be happy to cover you up for the duration of the feed' haha

Here is a link to a breastfeeding support thread with trained peer supporters on there ready to give help and advice.

Please share this link with any posters you see where you think it might be helpful to them.

Mumsnet Breastfeeding Club www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/3571416-mumsnet-breastfeeding-club

crispysausagerolls I thought that too - the other lady had a bottle refuser - she needed solidarity rather than advice I think.

I agree, I started to post on that thread but realised I didn’t have any actual advice, as she had already tried bottle feeding, and I haven’t shared her experiences so couldn’t offer support that way either.
Being a breastfeeding supporter doesn’t mean posting on every breastfeeding post just for the sake of it.

Genuinely get what is being said about not having anything to post for that poor lady, but for me when I was in her position I wanted someone to tell me I wasn’t a monster for not loving all the moments and finding the feeding horrid. First time round no one did, second time an NHS breastfeeding counsellor has been unbelievably supportive as has my new GP. It’s made the difference and stopped me spiralling into horrid anxiety again and I may get to the year this time without going bonkers, I may not of course!

Maybe its about reassurance that while BF may be a natural thing to do it’s not easy and even with a great milk supply it’s not necessarily easy either. Those messages don’t always come across especially from the healthcare professionals (my own HV I'm looking at you here) and having a bottle refuser in that position is just the worst. Nothing anyone can do to help that beyond tactics and bottle suggestions but a lime word helps though I realise no one here is trying to be unkind.

A kind word might be more helpful than a lime word...autocorrect strong again today!

BibbleBrain

I understand but equally 1) I found BF very easy and 2) it’s quite ignorant to suggest (not you but the PP who did) that BF means you are obligated to help. Does a gay person have to comment on a thread about homophobia?!

It's the 'permitted' that gets my goat.
Why should anyone need permission to feed their child?

@BibbleBrain you are right of course but I genuinely don’t know what kind of support to give - keep going? Try and stop? I would say keep going but I don’t want to upset someone who is at the end of their tether if you know what I mean.

@crispysausagerolls of course you are not obligated to help. I commented on the large numbers of people who say yay I’m pro breast feeding aren’t KLM awful compared to the tiny numbers that would give words or assurance to someone struggling with their breast feeding journey.

I think you’ll find that support groups in life are generally by those who have experienced the event being supported first hand.

*I had severe tearing and struggled to sit down, had very little control over bodily functions. Who knew I was also supposed to ask the person sat next to me if it was ok if I fed my baby?

"Do you mind if I fed my baby or would you prefer it if I saturated my top with milk and smelt slightly cheesy for the rest of this 9hour flight while my baby howls?"*

Well yes, that was an issue too. I was leaking out of every crevice!

somersetlady

What about the large number of people who say “yay I am pro breastfeeding” (yourself included) who then shame women into covering themselves in order to pander to others?

Being pro breastfeeding does not mean one has relevant experience or advice necessarily. So your point is moot.

@SomersetLady

I'm completely pro-breast feeding, and women should be able to do it on planes or wherever else without covering up, or having the responsibility/ burden of protecting others from offence!

But also, I completely failed at breast feeding myself and would be useless at advising any one else.

Directing people to that thread seems a pointless distraction. Lots of people, men and women, will never breastfeed. They don't need to give advice on another thread in order to qualify to give their opinion on mother's rights on this thread.

Directing people to that thread seems a pointless distraction. Lots of people, men and women, will never breastfeed. They don't need to give advice on another thread in order to qualify to give their opinion on mother's rights on this thread.

^^ This

Quite. I have loved breastfeeding but I wouldn't dream of offering any advice to someone who doesn't enjoy it. You either say carry on, it gets better (it may not), stop if you want to (she may regret it), or... what?

Well, it's a fantastic way to make BFing mothers feel unwelcome and self-conscious.

My baby hates having something over his head so we gave up on covering up quite early on. Plus in 8 months not one person has complained to me or tried to make me stop.

Just to say yesterday we took 2 klm flights transferring through Amsterdam - both packed, very international & diverse group of passengers and several very small babies as well as lots of children. The staff were fab with the kids, I think my 3yoDS fell in love with the steward who had a raspberry blowing contest with him, he kissed her goodbye when we left, the babies seemed to be fed fine without any issues.
No matter how badly worded their policies may be, for us I'm glad to say when it counted their staff were great yesterday.

For all those saying that this is all against breastfeeding mothers and it would never happen to someone with too much breast on show.

It has this week:

A Spanish airline has come under fire after cabin crew objected to a female passenger's low-cut bodysuit and threw her off the flight because of her 'attitude

Sorry it’s not a link but on the dailyfail app

They asked her to cover up! No baby involved.

I flew KLM last week with my 3 month old. We were sitting right at the front of the plane with a bassinet. I fed my son a fair bit during the flight and the air hostesses / hosts couldn't have been more accommodating. Very happy with their service