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?

@Isthisafreename

A study published in The Lancet last year found Ireland had the lowest breastfeeding rates of 27 high-income countries.

Breastfeeding rates outside of Dublin are far far lower with just irish 15% of mothers feeding more than 3 months.

I sadly don’t see it as a common everyday occurrence in the part of Ireland we reside although i very much hope that changes in the future.

Women sexualise their breasts ? Why, if they are just feeding mammaries, stop sexualising your breasts and this will not happen.

It is perfectly possible to BF discreetly without covering the baby up. A picture someone posted earlier demonstrated this. Like CareBear50 says, it doesn't have to be a war. A little understanding on BOTH sides can go a long way.

HenSolo, that's your call. I don't think a teenage boy would necessarily be offended by a boob blatantly on show, but it may have other perfectly natural effects which would be embarrassing for all

Yes tell the naughty women to stop what they are doing for the convenience of the men. Blessed be the fruit

@gibbonlover i think you’ve put in a paragraph what i’ve failed to get across over a whole thread

It is perfectly possible to BF discreetly without covering the baby up. A picture someone posted earlier demonstrated this. Like CareBear50 says, it doesn't have to be a war. A little understanding on BOTH sides can go a long way.

Cripes, I am a whole boob out feeder. I don't do it for attention, it's just easier. I wear vest tops and the one up one down method is just too much clothing in this heat and I honestly have no issue with popping a boob out to feed. Ds' head covers most of it anyway. I've never had any comments positive or negative while in public feeding.

@HenSolo you get that breasts are not only good for breastfeeding right? They can be used for pleasure too? Mutually by consenting adults?

When you’re aroused, the sensitivity of your breasts increases (just like your clitoris!). In fact, when your nipples are sexually stimulated, those sensations travel to the same areas of the brain that respond to genital stimulation, according to research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. This triggers the release of oxytocin, the bonding hormone released when you have an orgasm.

So a young boy is unlikely to have any experience of breasts for breastfeeding but might have enjoyed mutually consenting sexual contact involving breasts?

@Somersetlady - that same study showed massive variation in rates across the country. I live in an urban, middle-class area (not Dublin) and breastfeeding is very common.

Thanks for the patronising post! I shall make sure to cover up fully in future to avoid giving teenagers erections!

This is not at all representative of KLM’s usual attitude to breastfeeding. I must have breastfed on 20 KLM flights and only had good experiences. Flight crew have moved the passenger next to me (to better seats!) to give me more space when I was travelling alone with a bigger baby. They open drinks so I don’t have to do it one handed. They’ve even walked a crying baby up and down to give me a break to eat.

If more of us breastfeed in public perhaps this hypothetical young boy would have experience of seeing breastfeeding and it would be normalised for him? Which may be a blessing if and when he has children of his own.

@GemmeFatale wouldn't that be great. It sounds so simple!
How do you suggest we go about improving the desperately low breastfeeding rates in the UK and Ireland?
Ban formula like they do in sweden or Australia?

I am so cross at this I've taken to Twitter to vent my spleen.

And I lop a whole tit out to feed, from time to time too, if I have to. Without a muslin or a blanket, too sometimes!! The fucking horror of it. Its my kid having lunch for fucks sake. If you don't like it, don't look. I won't spray you in the face with my magnificent let down unless you give me a dirty look then I fucking will

Ffs to those of you who feel/felt ‘very uncomfortable’ at the sight of a boob being used for breastfeeding. If that’s the worst sensation you ever experience then you are truly blessed.

Grow up for goodness sake! Or definitely stay away from any large art galleries or museums where you might catch a glimpse of paintings of the Virgin Mary - shock horror! - breastfeeding her son.

I assume as well that most of you, like me, grew up in the era of Page 3, and saw much more boob regularly in your dad’s daily newspaper.

@Hugtheduggee Christ, if anyone gets a rod on looking at my veiny enforced stretchmarked udders I'd be fucking thrilled.

Christ this topic really does bring out the twats in life. IF YOU WERE BREASTFED THIS IS HOW YOU LITERALLY FUCKING EXIST

@Anothertempusername and I are over here lopping WHOLE breasts out. Airplanes full of poor men desperately hiding erections, wives and mothers having to explain what’s happening as the poor children scream at the horror of it all.
Meanwhile, good girl in the next row over is also breastfeeding but the angel has partially covered her boob. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, they can see only a little bit of boob. The erections fade away, the men can get on with their important lives now.

I’ve gone a bit mad I think

Enforced means engorged. I don’t spell check when I’m cross 😂

"passengers of all backgrounds" = "some intolerant religious fucknut complained".

They can fuck off. I fed mine when they were hungry, end of. Anyone finding it offensive could feel free to deploy their eyelids.

@HenSolo titloppers unite!! Let's titlop all over the land, spreading erections like pixie dust!

Think YABVU. You are taking what they are saying the wrong way massively. Permitted is a common word airlines use for a range of things. And yeah, of course there should be a bit of cover going on, because not everyone wants to see a breast whipped out to feed their baby, it's fine to do so, it is allowed, but cover yourself a bit for your dignity and so other people won't have to see completely what is going on. Come on OP.

@Glitter99x you are wrong.

HTH.

I've just come back from a holiday which was a bosom bonanza. No one batted an eyelid. But as was said upthread it only becomes a problem when a baby is attached to them.
Still nothing shocks me. Can you believe a healthcare assistant on the maternity unit told me not to breastfeed when the other mothers husbands were visiting? I was too shocked to complain and I'm still angry about it 14 years later.

"dignity"

There is nothing undignified about feeding a baby. Women who buy into that shit make me incredibly angry.

This is NOT about the mythical performance breastfeeder who waves her boobs around at passers-by in hope of provoking a ruck.

It's about ordinary mothers trying to feed their babies under stressful circumstances, who may have latch problems, or fussy/easily distracted/reflux babies, or very large breasts, or inverted nipples, or may still be getting the hang of breastfeeding and simply not be able to conduct the whole process without showing skin. They shouldn't have to be worrying about that. They shouldn't be under pressure to prioritise discretion in that situation. They shouldn't feel as though they are doing something dirty that needs to be hidden. They should be supported, accepted and not remarked upon at all, by anyone. FFS.

if KLM are running flights from the UK they should comply with UK law anyway.

How's that going to work if they fly between the UK and somewhere with completely different laws?

I was bf my younger daughter at a bus stop one day and a woman told me it was disgusting! She had her daughter who was about 5 with her and said daughter was guzzling a bottle of Coke!