When I have a baby, I plan on breast feeding my kids. I never understood the big fuss over it, since to me it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. My mom did it, my grandmother did it and all of the mammals in the animal kingdom do it, too.
But it can be a touchy subject these days, as one mom found out the hard way when going through airport security recently. Amy Strand was stopped on a flight in Hawaii by a TSA agent who took out her breast pumping equipment and questioned her over it, ultimately forcing her to use it and fill her bottles before allowing her to pass security. She was understandably humiliated over the incident, especially given the fact that she had to pump in the bathroom, at the sink (where the only outlet was located) and in full public view.
Read more ¿Qué más? Ok, can we all stop freaking out about breastfeeding already?
According to reports, she had emptied out the milk bottles in order to go through security with the breast pump, a cooler pack and empty milk bottles but was stopped only to be told that the cooler pack, which was specially made for the milk's cooler and difficult to replace, could not go through if she didn't pump.
She described the emotional experience to ABCNews.com:
I'm in a dress, in heels and I find myself in front of a sink and mirrors with travelers coming in and out of the bathroom. I'm standing at the sink with my breast hanging out, pumping. I wanted to cry. I was humiliated.
Read more ¿Qué más? Let us breastfeed our babies in peace!
This is just one more attack on women who choose to breast feed. Although the TSA has since acknowledged that the agent was mistaken (and is receiving remedial training), that's no excuse for bringing this woman to tears. I am outraged. I really hope that the TSA learns from this huge mistake and trains their airport security personnel a little better. A woman should not be humiliated because she chooses to breast feed her child, period, and they really need to figure out a way to uniformly regulate what we are allowed and not allowed to carry with us past security.
What do you think of the TSA making this woman use her breast pump in a public restroom?
Image via ABCnews
