S/O of I'm grossed out at you post

[Anonymous]

So, just curious what those of you who were defending the metro nursing mom would say about this- I exclusively pump, 4 x/day at this point. I had to go on a business trip to the west coast and despite my trying to arrange it otherwise, had to pump on the plane. I didn't go to the bathroom. but rather pumped away in an aisle seat, surrounded by strange men. I did use a nursing cover and prayed that nothing would show. I've also pumped in the airport, in strangers' offices, and while colleagues were in the room (with their back to me). Inappropriate or not?

[Anonymous]

I didn't comment on the other thread. My philosophy is you do what you have to do. Personally, I would not have been able to pump on a plane seat around others, but I don't think it's wrong or inappropriate. I'm sure people appreciated that you didn't use the bathroom for 15 minutes!

I was funny about nursing in public. I only did it a few times and I used my cover. It was a comfort thing for me, I just preferred to be a bit more private. I have no issues with women BFing in public and think it should be supported, but I also think companies/worksites should accomodate BFing and pumping moms who are employed there to give them a private, comfortable space.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't know what kind of pump you have, or if pumps have improved substantially in the three years since I stopped nursing, but I just simply can't imagine being able to do this publically or discretely. I felt like I was being hooked up to Farmer's Brown's milking machine. And the chugga-chugga-chugga noise would have alerted one-and-all that something was going on -- not that they would have known what I was up to, but I'm sure they would have thought I was either making snow-cones or grinding wood or something to that effect.

I'm sorry, I just can't imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't know what kind of pump you have, or if pumps have improved substantially in the three years since I stopped nursing, but I just simply can't imagine being able to do this publically or discretely. I felt like I was being hooked up to Farmer's Brown's milking machine. And the chugga-chugga-chugga noise would have alerted one-and-all that something was going on -- not that they would have known what I was up to, but I'm sure they would have thought I was either making snow-cones or grinding wood or something to that effect.

I'm sorry, I just can't imagine.

Very doubtful on a noisy plane.

OP - I would have had no problem whatsoever if I saw you do that. Chances are hardly anyone noticed. And those how did probably didn't care. And those who noticed and cared need to catch up with the rest of society.

[Anonymous]

OP here- it's the Medela Freestyle- worth every since penny! It's tiny and yes, it's noisy, but on a plane you can't hear a thing.

I've heard that you should feel like you can pump in the same places you'd nurse but there are definitely times when I wouldn't feel comfortable. My worry was that someone would think I had a bomb attached to me with the wires hanging out!

[Anonymous]

You gotta do what you gotta do. Until the Metro and airplanes supply mothers with nursing and pumping rooms, what else can you do? As someone said, you can't monopolize the restroom for 15 minutes everywhere you go, so I think you were perfectly right to pump on a plane (and you were considerate, to boot, wearing a shield). It drives me nuts that people apparently think boobs are only private, sexual objects for the pleasure of men -- evolutionarily, they are used for nursing mammalian babies; it's as natural as drinking water or eating a sandwich in public to nurse your baby or pump if you need to.

Not a mom, but someone who thinks that moms are given the short end of the stick in this country (including, sadly and usually, by overly judgey women!)

[Anonymous]

I had no problem nursing in public, but I would not have been able to pump. I would have been so uncomfortable that I'm sure the milk wouldn't have let down. I hated pumping. It felt so cow-like and unnatural. Nursing was a different story.

I didn't comment on the other thread because it was so clearly designed by someone juvenile and dumb to rile folks up and I don't like to encourage that kind of behavior. However, if I see a nursing mom, I don't think twice. If I noticed you pumping on a plane, I would probably feel a little sorry for you that you had to do that (given how uncomfortable I would be in that situation), but certainly wouldn't think badly of you.