Alyssa Milano welcomed her second child, a daughter named Elizabella Dylan, last September with husband David Bugliari. Since then, Alyssa’s advocated for more acceptance of public breastfeeding and no shaming of moms who do so. It’s been a long time since I dealt with this issue firsthand. I remember trying to pump milk at work, which was exhausting but necessary to keep up milk supply and fill bottles for the next day. On rare days, a relative would bring my daughter to me so I could feed her on lunch break. That eliminated some of the pumping, which was nice. Every ounce of pumping feels like it takes forever.
Alyssa dealt with a sucky situation yesterday regarding her own pumped milk. The security agents at Heathrow airport made her throw away a bottle of her supply. She did what any upset mom would do — she tweeted the airport to express her dismay:
(1 of 2) @HeathrowAirport just took my pumped breast milk away. 10 ounces. Gone. Not okay.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
(2 of 2) They said they would let the pumped milk through if I had the baby with me. Why would I need to pump if I had the baby with me????
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
.@HeathrowAirport Why can you test my toiletries to make sure they are safe but you have to throw away my breast milk?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
Heathrow responded to Alyssa in a tweet that explained how they were bound by their 100ml rule. That’s the blanket rule for all liquids. I’ve been told that Heathrow is strict and doesn’t allow exceptions. The rule is a pain in the butt, but it exists for serious reasons.
Due credit goes out to Alyssa for not pulling any sort of “do you know who I am?” card. She took the discussion to Twitter, not for attention purposes but to start a conversation. Alyssa also issued a statement to People that places her feelings into perspective:
“I realize there are much larger issues going on in the world. And I don’t want to turn this into a bigger issue than it is but I will say this … breastfeeding my children has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Every ounce of milk I’m able to produce for my child is nothing short of a miracle and to watch that milk be thrown away without any regard for my baby, was heartbreaking. It’s not the fault of the security in the airport; they’re following orders to keep us all safe. But I do I feel it is a policy that needs thoughtful reconsideration. I’m glad this has started a dialogue. My only hope is to make things easier for moms, breastfeeding and formula feeding moms, everywhere.”
[From People]
Alyssa’s statement is a good one. She explains why she was so upset. She also made sure to say she didn’t blame the airport’s security staff. Alyssa only wants to open a dialogue. I’m not sure if this incident will change anything. It doesn’t sound like Heathrow was discriminating against breast milk. They simply don’t have the means to efficiently test milk in the security line. The rules apply to all liquids, but I can see why Alyssa was frustrated over losing her milk. The loss felt very personal to her.
Photos courtesy of WENN
Wow. I’m really good with faces, but I wouldn’t recognize her in that white dress photo if you put a gun to my head.
As for the story itself… Sigh. Read the goddamn airline rules.
I’m the biggest supporter of breast feeding. I don’t believe women should have to retreat to their cars or a bathroom to do it, I don’t think we should expect babies to be covered when nursing in public, and I think employers need to allow women adequate time to pump after returning to work. Having said that, these rules are in place for a reason, and a woman as well-traveled as she is has no excuse for not knowing them. She tried to disregard rules that help ensure the safety of many–I just can’t feel that sorry for her or her lost bottle of breast milk.
Exactly. Those rules are there for a reason. She travels often enough to know them. I’m sorry about her milk but that’s how the cookie crumbles.
I don’t know…most of the TSA type rules are nothing more than security theater.
Yep, Most likely you have to throw away your food and drinks so that you HAVE to buy in the expensive airport shops and eateries.
I doubt it prevents terrorists from hijacking or blowing up planes.
@question everything: if you remember, that rule was put in place because of an exposed plot to smuggle in explosives in bottles of shampoo and tubes of toothpaste. It’s like how we have to take off our shoes as well because of Richard Reid.
And you can bring food, just not liquids.
@question everything: What you buy in an airport or on a plane is overpriced, but it’ s not like they are forcing you to buy anything. I am pretty sure people can go on without eating and drinking for a few hours if that is what they really think and they want to “fight the system”.
I really don’ t see the problem here: it’ s illegal to bring liquids, just because you are famous or a mother, it doesn’ t mean that you should get away from it. Pumping milk from your breast is biology, not a miracle, and her tweets sound like she is really trying to be seen as a victim of breastfeeding-blaming, which is something I find irritating to say the least!
Perhaps mothers should apply for breast milk passes like a visa system,
@sugar I agree. The rules are ridiculous and haven’t done anything towards keeping anyone safe. They routinely harass people with prosthetics and colostomy bags, and make 90 year old women take off their shoes just to prove they aren’t profiling. They take away your water so they can turn around and sell you another for $5 as soon as you get through the stupid security theater.
No, those rules are security theater BS. None of the TSA rules have stopped terrorist attacks.
@JWQ
Diabetics can’t go a few hours without eating or drinking. Same goes for people with lots of health conditions.
At question everything, I pretty much agree with you. Though, I take an empty bottle for water through security and then usually refill it in a fountain and was pleased to see that Austin-Bergstrom has a hydration station that gives you a more convenient fountain to refill such bottles. That is fantastic and it’d be great if it became a thing. I have real issue with airport stores charging so much for drinking water.
@NYCStarGazer)
Food is allowed, and most people with diabetics CAN go on for a few hours without eating. If case they can’ t, then they should be able to take what they need with them, but only AFTER they show a medical prescription and whatever they have is checked.
I was obviously talking about the majority of people, and they don’ t need to eat/drink constantly! I don’ t think that few people with special problems should dictate the way an airport works! The people who work there have the job to take you safely to your destination, meaning that among other things they need to control that people won’ t try to kill you once you are in the air, not cuddle you and make you comfortable no matter what but at the expense of everything else!
I have never thought to throw a tantrum about the level of security in an airport! In fact, I think the opposite and that the more thorough they are, the better it is!
Is it an annoying pain in the ass for people who are not planning on hijacking/blowing up a plane? Of course it is! But it’ s just a minor inconvenience, and I am seriously baffled about all these people aggressively complaining about it like having a bottle of water removed, a bottle of water you shouldn’ t even have because the rule is clear, is some sort of personal offense.
And I understand even less the ones who are making excuses about people who seem harmless being forced to be checked. It doesn’ t matter if a cute 90 years old lady looks fragile and only talks about making apple pies and feeding squirrels! If terrorists are willing to use children, they sure as hell are willing to do the same to disabled or older people!
And let’ s talk about the ones who say that these security measures had done nothing to protect us! I doubt the government informs the public about every operation they run, be them successfull or not. Which means that unless you were present, or you work for the airport or the police forces, you wouldn’ t know about terrorist attacks unless they happen! You think those measures do nothing. I think they have saved lives, actively or passively, since the day they were approved!
Personally, better safe than sorry all the way!
I understand their rule: if the baby had been there, they’d make an exception. Maybe she should have checked the breast milk in her luggage if her flight had originated from London. It’s an issue, though, if she were transferring planes. They should institute a new policy offering boxes and expedited checking for those who’ve had to pump in flight. BECAUSE HEATHROW IS OUT OF CONTROL AND A FASCIST NATION-STATE IN AND OF ITSELF IN THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH SCREENING AGAIN WHEN YOU’RE JUST CATCHING A CONNECTING FLIGHT! That means, when during your 10-hour flight they give you a little box lunch filled with yogurt or a cup of water, YOU GET STOPPED AND HUNG UP AT SECURITY WHEN YOU DON’T REALIZE THAT YOU ABSENTMINDEDLY PACKED THE WATER IN YOUR CARRY-ON TO SAVE FOR LATER BECAUSE YOU HAD NO IDEA YOU’D BE GETTING SCREENED AGAIN DURING YOUR 55-MINUTE LAYOVER AND ARE CERTAIN TO MISS YOUR CONNECTION ANYWAY BECAUSE THEIR LINES MOVE SO SLOWLY AND THEIR SECURITY IS DRUNK WITH DELIBERATELY SLOW-MOVING, ANXIETY-INDUCING ABSOLUTE POWER!
Or so I’ve heard.
I hear ya, Pinky! Flew out of Heathrow this summer. I thought American agents were not nice, but after I saw the British one, American ones seem like cuddly teddy bears.
Love this Pinky
have to give a shout out to the London City Airport “TSA” agents. Two years ago I flew in through Heathrow, but had to make a connecting flight at London City Airport. As I was going through the security checkpoint I was selected for additional screening of my carry ons. The female agent tested my body butter and the strip turned blue (aside note: what the heck is in Body Shop Body Butter that would test positive for bomb residue?!?).
Anyway I acted like I didn’t know that turning blue was a bad thing, she explained what it meant, but said “I’ll just test your body spray and see if that passes.” It did and I was on my merry way. I can only imagine how that incident would have played out in the US given my experiences involving forgotten bottles of water in my carry-on.
@ Ashley: Glycerol (aka glycerine or glycerin). It’s a harmless sticky liquid used in soaps and lotions to make them smoother. But it’s also the base for nitroglycerin, which is used in dynamite (and in heart medications). The test isn’t specific enough to tell whether you have glycerin or nitroglycerin, so don’t try to carry-on any lotion/cream – it’ll always flag.
Amen. She’s just hoping the mommy brigade will take up her complaint. She could have easily divided the milk into several 2 oz bottles. Pffft.
In a different article (read it yesterday, don’t remember sorry) she said she read the rules online and they said she could bring 10oz on the plane if she had the baby with her. Then when she got to the airport they said no and dumped it. She said if she had known she would have divided the milk and packed it, it’s the disconnect that is infuriating.
This makes her sound a little more sane but why cause a ruckus? Dump the milk and remember for next time.
“she said she read the rules online and they said she could bring 10oz on the plane if she had the baby with her” But she didn’t have the baby with her?
Rules are rules, and there aren’t any exceptions. Sorry sugar, but that’s the way it goes.
I’m wondering how she expected to get the pumped milk back to LA (or wherever she was going). Breastmilk needs to be refrigerated or frozen, or it spoils. Does she carry a battery-powered refrigerator with her?
Actually, breastmilk can stay out for about 7 hours. Its antibodies make it very different from cow’s milk or formula. It’s incredible stuff!
If someone is going to bring down the plane I’m in, there’s not much you can do about it at 35,000 feet. So, if it’s going to be my last trip then why not just make us comfortable and let us bring along what we need to without the fuss.
it’s just brest milk. them throwing it out is not the end of the world especially since the baby wasn’t even with her.
BOO HOOO{ the rules are the rules}
I fully support breast feeding and not shaming women for doing so. But I was also in London with a ticket to come home on the day when the plot to blow up planes using elements hidden in liquids was foiled. Innocent people could have DIED by the dozen. I was about to get in a cab to the airport when my husband got an email that our flight was cancelled. The hundreds of people who were already there were trapped in tents in the rain outside of the airport for days, freezing, unable to leave. There’s nothing wrong with starting a conversation about reexamining the rules, I guess. But I also feel that she is over-dramatizing her inconvenience. 10 ounces of breast milk is a pain to replace I’m sure. But I will forever be grateful to the British security forces for saving hundreds of lives, including mine and my husband’s possibly, and whatever they think is necessary to continue being safe is fine with me.
Exactly this
Right on, GNAT.
Why didn’t she just freeze it and have it shipped home? For goodness sake it couldn’t cost that much.
I read about this yesterday, and she said that they allowed her shampoo and lotions, even though they exceeded the volume as well.
I work at Heathrow and that is not the case.Everyday I have to go through security and when this started we could not bring through yogurts! !.The limits are strictly enforced by the security staff and debates even go to is a mousse desert a liquid!!
You have to have each item in 100ml bottles and thee is some testing that goes on.I remember one colleague had to put his spaghetti sauce with his spaghetti so as to make it non liquid!!!!
100ml is maximum volume for any liquid. 10 oz milk is only ok if the baby is there too. Hers wasn’t. She claims she had more that 3 ozl of shampoo but I claim she doesn’t know how to convert ml to oz.
I don’t care what happens to her milk & she was dumb to think she could get away with this. Go buy some smaller bottles.
I am all for moms breastfeeding, but I agree, rules are rules and they are there for a reason. Why should she be exempt from the no liquids rule just because she is pumping milk?
Honestly, I think she is just doing this for attention. What is publicly complaining about this going to do? Nothing. Because again, those rules are there for a reason.
Because, according to every single mom I happen to be friends with on facebook, it was LIQUID GOLD. Honestly, it’s driving me crazy. Breastfeeding/pumping is a great thing to do for your baby if you can and are inclined to but society as a whole doesn’t owe you one damn thing for doing it. It doesn’t elevate you above the rest of the rule-following public.
Totally agree! She needs to get over it.
The only thing that I find confusing is the arbitrary ounces rule. If she had divided the milk in two containers that would be fine. This is where I get confused. If liquids can be used to bring down a plane, can a terrorist use small containers for security and then combine the liquids in the airplane bathroom?
Also the baby rule is strange. If she had a baby with her, then they would allow the 10 ounces. The assumption is that a terrorist wouldn’t endanger a baby, which is a naive notion.
Except it was later shown there was basically no way that plot could have actually worked. Let’s focus on the virtually unscreened baggage handlers roaming the tarmac with access to aircraft, not harassing passengers over toiletries and breast milk.
The rules have been in affect for years, no exceptions it’s for her safety as well as everyone else, so no sympathy
Yep, we all have to abide by those rules. She just thought the rules didn’t apply to her because she’s a C-D list celebrity?
Nope.
Sorry guys. I live in Asia and all airlines and airports are super supportive to breastfeeding moms. Several time i have to work out of town or country and endure pumping for couple of days. At the end of the trip, I just pack the milk bottles inside a cooler bag and hand it over to the purser when I board the plane. They take it for safekeeping and put it in cabin refrigerator. There is even article about this when a dad is taking milk bottles from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia and it’s > 8 hours flight!
hmmm…with all due respect, no. The rules are there for a reason and a very good one. Why do people have always to find a way to whine about it? Not enough security, is no security. Too much security is “makes no sense in my personal case, ’cause look at me, I can’t have anything danger with me, I’m sooo cute”
And she might not have screamed “do you know who I am”, but she took it on twitter with that note behind it.
I like her but I disagree with this.
Exactly. These rules are in place for everyone, but I guess she’s just so used to living in that celebrity bubble that allows different rules for them. If God forbid someone is looking to sabotage a flight, they really aren’t going to care that she is an actress. She’d meet the same fate as the other passengers. She needs to get over it and realize it’s for her safety as well.
I get that it is an inconvenience for her…but this isn’t a new rule. I’m not sure why she thinks that she’s being mistreated – and I feel like she’s kind of making it seem like she’s being persecuted for breast feeding rather than for not following the well-known rules that are in place.
I’m pretty sure this all about drawing attention to her. Look at me!!!!! No really. Please. Look at me!!!
Maybe she felt mistreated because the officers were less than friendly towards her and instead of explaining the rule, they just dumped out the milk? But honestly, i go through Heathrow thrice a year and it is one of the busiest airports in the world. Officers don’t have time to be friendly to every single person in the security queue, especially those going out to Terminal 5, where most flights to the US are located at. I had to dump out all my toiletries into a clear plastic baggy, EVENTHOUGH i was using a clear toiletries case that was TSA-approved. Signs indicating what is and isn’t prohibited are also displayed everywhere. Airport security is a pain, sure, but everyone deals with it and has been for many years now.
Eh, rules are rules, if you want to fly commercial you have to follow them, and the liquids rule has been in place for a really long time now.
It’s a good statement but she kind of lost me with the “every ounce is a miracle!” thing.
It’s a natural bodily function, not a miracle!
I understand not all women can do it but that doesn’t make it miraculous.
This ^^
I rolled my eyes so hard when I read “miracle” , they might still be stuck out there.
It is everything but a miracle
Completely lost me with the miracle quote. I’ve always liked her, but this just irritated me. Honestly, if I ever said I was heartbroken about the tragic loss of ten ounces of my miraculous breast milk, all my friends would harass the hell out of me till the end time. And, I would thank them for the reality check.
Lol, my friends would sit me down if I said that, too.
Perfectly stated, DI!
Umm, I breastfed my son and had a horrible time producing milk. Tried everything, too. I pumped 4 oz. one day and was so thrilled. But, I accidentally knocked over the bottle and lost 2 oz. of it. I cried. Sure, there are worse things that could happen, but when you are desperately trying to make breastfeeding work and you have to discard/lose your pumped milk, it is heartbreaking. Breastfeeding comes naturally, but not easily. Thankfully, I had supportive friends/family who didn’t laugh at me or shame me back to reality, because I cried over spilled milk.
yes, but lauri, if she is producing 10 oz at a time she doesnt have the issues that you did. youre projecting.
@anon33
Who says she pumped it all at once? What if it took her 7 pumping sessions to get 10 oz?
I believe YOU are projecting.
@lauri
My kids wouldn’t breast feed and I had a REALLY hard time pumping. Eventually, had to go with formula, there was too much BLOOD in my milk, which bummed me out. But, I dealt with it and didn’t make it into a bigger drama than it had to be.
@ Laurie
What I should have said earlier is that I’m sorry you had such a difficult time with breastfeeding. It isn’t an easy thing to deal with when your kids don’t naturally take to it. I wasn’t being very sensitive with the post because it didn’t sound to me as if breastfeeding was the real problem here. It read to me as if she was being unreasonable about airline safety and that’s what really got my goat. Wish you well!
What was she going to do with it? Freeze it? Where was the baby?
No one thought to look up any rules? The airline staff didn’t think to mention “um, you know you can’t land with that much milk you’re pumping”?
so many questions.
It sounds like she was stopped entering the airport to get on a flight… not arriving from somewhere
thanks
for some reason I thought I read she landed, not at boarding.
whew! makes much more sense now.
It’s not as though the rules aren’t very well publicised. No one deserves special treatment. At least she lost something easily replaceable that her own body creates daily. Get over it
Btw- when you pump milk, shouldn’t it be refrigerated? Why is she carrying it around on flights?
This is what I was wondering. Granted, I’ve never had children, so I know next to nothing about pumping, but I’m assuming if security threw it away, she had pumped beforehand and could have packed it in checked baggage. If she’d pumped after clearing security, it wouldn’t have been an issue. And regardless of all that, what was she going to do with it?? It would have to be refrigerated. Even in an insulated bag, I’d think you’d be seriously pushing it. London to NYC is what? 8 hrs? And that’s just the flight. And she was probably connecting to LA?
Freshly pumped milk can be room temperature for up to 6 hours.
They also make insulated bags with ice packs. Some people carry coolers. The technology isn’t difficult.
I know it’s a pain to pump but in a few hours she’ll be full and ready to pump again. Better to be safe. At the airport in Mexico City I went through security then bought a bottle of water for every one in my family. When it was time to board they made us dump the water. The only airport where that has ever happened to me. Not sure of the reasoning behind that one.
That makes no sense–you were past screening, bought water, and then they made you dump it? Sounds like they suspect there’s something in the water there in Mexico–and they didn’t want it traveling to the U.S….
Nairobi airport, as well!
Heathrow is tough when traveling with babies…..last year we had a transfer through Heathrow and I had a couple jars of baby food – meant to get us through an overseas flight and any possible delays/unforeseen situation(s). Anyway, I had them out in my security tray with the other liquids etc and the security guy made me open one to taste it…..had we been going short-haul it would be no big deal but we we’re heading onto an overseas flight and there would be no way to refridgerate a “contaminated” jar of food (I had to stick my finger in it to get the taste) so we were down a jar plus I couldn’t pick which one – he held the jars behind his back and I had to “pick a hand” (the fruit ones were more for snacks/fillers than the savoury and breakfasts ones so if I lost one of those it wouldn’t have been a problem). I’m still a little miffed to this day. However, we arrived safe & sound and continue to fly safely so I won’t bag on security personal doing their jobs…..
What was the problem exactly? I’ve read multiple times that you’ll be asked to taste baby food at customs…
It was the first (and last) time I’ve been asked to do so – the problem wasn’t having to actually taste the food but that I had to crack the seal on a jar and stick an unwashed finger into the jar contaminating it so it had to be thrown out taking us down a jar on a long haul journey . I guess I’m overly worried about delays etc when we travel with our small children. Before and since then I’ve travelled all over through numerous airports in different countries with baby food jars & bottles and have never been asked again to taste it……usually they are pretty easygoing when it comes to baby paraphernalia😊
The fact that you had to crack the seal makes me scratch my head. I can see asking you to taste an opened jar or bottle… but if it’s still sealed from the factory, you never had access to the contents. It just doesn’t make sense.
@JackRabbit
You say airport security is easygoing with baby paraphanelia, and I find this terribly worrisome. In today’s climate, it’s a wonder some fanatic hasn’t exploited this. I don’t think we should make it impossible for mothers with babies to fly, but I do think there needs to be strict rules in place regarding all liquids/baby food. I’m sorry you felt inconvenienced, but I am personally thankful that security didn’t just waive you through.
if you weren’t asked before, you were lucky. They shouldn’t be relaxed about anything or next thing you know that weakness gets exploited.
On the tv show Border Security in Australia you see all sorts of stuff being shipped into the country that is properly sealed and supposedly untampered with but in inspection it’s laced with drugs.
You can be annoyed all you like but dems da rules. Go by car next time if you don’t like it
@Jackrabbit, what you said alarms me. I don’t think a suicide bomber would have a problem poisoning themselves by tasting contaminated baby food. If all they have to do is lick it off their finger, it seems an easy way to bring explosive chemicals on board.
@Goats, I agree that it’s troublesome. I once watched a man be thoroughly examined by TSA as his young wife sat (unexamined) in a wheelchair. I remember thinking that it would be an easy way to sneak things on board.
I think they’d need a fairly high concentration of explosive to make it go bang and liquid explosives are pretty toxic. So it’s probably not so much “poisoning” as dropping dead within minutes.
(I tried to confirm that suspicion by googling explosive concentrations and lethal doses and now have THE most suspicious browsing history. Oops! *waves at NSA*)
Who would have time to test her breast milk to make sure she wasn’t some terrorist who was smuggling in explosives in breast milk (a liquid)? Quit your whining.
She said she had shampoo and lotions that exceeded the volume allowance, and they simply tested them and returned them to her.
I think she is confused as they never let anything above 100ml through.I work the other side of security control and this is my daily life,going through with my 100ml of milk for my tea!!!!
The test takes just a few seconds. They either dip a test strip in it (yuck!) or they swab the outside of the containers. They’re testing for explosives, not testing to see what the substance actually is. It’s the same test for all medical liquids and anyone who gets pulled for secondary screening (they do the swab thing on your bags and hands).
Interesting. I went through a major airport in the US with 4 6 oz bottles of breast milk with no problem. The baby was with me. They did inspect it, but it wasn’t a huge deal.
I believe the baby being with you made the difference. Then it is baby food. Otherwise it is just some suspicious liquid.
It must be different with Heathrow. I’ve travelled between NYC and LA with breast milk and later, organic travel milk packs (2 x 8oz) and apple juice (2 x 4oz) with no problems. They do test the bottles/packs individually and once in a while, esp. when the lines are long, the agents can get annoyed, but most applauded me for being prepared and packing healthy food and snacks for my baby. Now, the one item everyone gives me grief over – TSA agents, flight crew, and some passengers – is car seat. I used to travel with a small one to use in the airplane seats and everyone thought I was a neurotic, annoying, and pretentious mother.
The strap-harnesses are very easy to carry. Nobody ever complained.
Except TSA here makes an exception.
It’s on their website.
It’s for traveling with or without a child. They will screen breast milk or formula. It does say you have to tell a TSA officer before you are screened.
I know Heathrow is in England with different rules, but I can understand her confusion.
Right. She probably flew over with no issues. Heathrow’s website just says all liquids, there is nothing about breast milk separately on their website. Apparently they used to make you drink some of it as a means to test it.
yes there is – first hit if you google heathrow+liquids.
it is under the 100ml rule.
“Baby food or baby milk: This exception is only permitted if you are travelling with a baby or infant. Please carry only what you need for your journey and, to assist security screening, please do not carry these items in a flask. If you are not travelling with a baby or infant, excess liquids should be carried as hold luggage.”
Different airports/countries = different rules peeps.
Which is why this bugs me even more. I assume Alyssa has flown international before, it is her own fault for not checking or reading properly.
This is ridiculous, I’m sorry. SHE WASN’T IN THE US and the TSA rules do not apply. What’s more, she is a grown ass adult who is traveling internationally. It is 100% her responsibility to look up the rules and regulations for all airports. Ignorance is not a defense. GMAB.
I just skimmed the website. I went there again and it does say it. Yes, she should research the rules. I wasn’t making excuses for her. Just saying I could see how she could get confused.
I think breastfeeding shouldn’t even be a topic of discussion. Women should be able to/feel comfortable to do this wherever, whenever. It’s the most natural thing. And you can take breastmilk/babyfood on a plane. You just have to follow the rules, however weird some of them are (seriously, some of them make no sense). So what is that conversation she wants to start? She wanted to whine because she was inconvenienced and hadn’t read the rules properly. Then she backtracked because nobody was feeling particularly sympathetic? I don’t know. But I really do not see her problem.
I don’t think your first comments are fair. It may feel natural to you, but children, child-rearing and all it entails isn’t a natural feeling for all women / people and therefore can make them feel uncomfortable. You could say that’s their problem, but you’re only as bad as them then.
Their are discrete ways to breast feed in public that result in everyone feeling happier.
It’s not an individual’s responsibility to make sure no other is ever uncomfortable. It’s not a human right to not be made uncomfortable. Women should be able to feed in public without needing to feel their level of discreetness being evaluated and judged. You may think one thing is discreet but someone else thinks something totally different. The solution? The “uncomfortable” person looks away. No longer in line of sight, no longer an issue.
It is not a new mom’s responsibility to make everyone around her happier. And yes, it is absolutely fair to say that it’s the most natural thing in the world. If you FEEL differently, that really is your problem. If a baby being fed makes you uncomfortable, you have serious issues. There are a million ways to make people around you uncomfortable but I bet you don’t think about that all day. Blowing your nose in public? Some people find that horrifyingly disgusting but they know it can’t be avoided so they suck it up.
And it makes me furious to hear this “discreet” talk all the time. A baby needs to be discreet having lunch? Please. I ride the subway to work every day. Breastfeeding women are NOT what makes most people uncomfortable on a daily basis. If you’re not willing to live in a shed in the mountains, you better buck up and get over your discomfort.
Discreet.
I know it’s a natural thing to mother and child, but can make others uncomfortable. Years ago at restaurant, a lady just pulled out her breast and started. She was sitting right where my 8 year old could stare. There were definitely more discrete ways she and others can without a cover or even going to the bathroom. The world is not all comfortable with seeing this
@ Donna, what is the problem with an eight year old seeing a women feed her baby..? I’m trying really hard to see your point of view but for the life of me, can’t I just don’t understand why it’s offensive or awkward..?
I don’t think everyone wants to look at it while in a restaurant like Donnas 8 year old. I breastfed both of my kids @Aussie girl, but I knew it made some people uncomfortable and I’d turn and only lift my shirt the least to feed in public. Yes, it’s a natural thing, but I don’t want to show everyone body parts that we usually keep covered up
I understand if you were not comfortable at @Kate ( best name ever, it’s mine as well), I suppose I was super comfortable feeding in public and felt that if people where uncomfortable than don’t look.
I’ll never fully understand the need to breastfeed in public, whether or not it’s a “natural beautiful” thing. I just don’t want to see it, and I don’t want to see pictures of women ready to explode any second while posing in a bikini, either. I just don’t get it. Yes, babies are special, but why should those of us without them be made to feel guilty for not wanting to watch you feed your baby?
You could turn your head. Regardless, the baby’s right to eat trumps your mild discomfort.
When babies need to eat, they need to eat, regardless of where they are. Should breast feeding mothers just stay confined to their house?
I’m not arguing the baby’s right to eat. I’m not against breastfeeding. I’m simply saying Mom could cover herself with a napkin or baby blanket and then everyone would be happy.
Geez.
@Paris – everyone happy except the baby…
why don’t you eat every meal with a blanket over your head?
Some babies will not feed under a cover.
Turn your head away, far easier.
Goodness, you’re not Mother Mary. Be discreet and cover yourself. Sex is natural but you wouldn’t assume the position in a public place. Brushing your teeth is natural but you don’t floss and brush at the restaurant table. It’s more about making a statement than the welfare of the kid; the baby couldn’t care less if a light towel is used to cover the mother’s chest. Everyone thinks they’re special with no regard for anyone else.
@Paris “I’ll never fully understand the need to breastfeed in public”. Really? REALLY? You don’t get why a baby might be hungry and need to eat while out and about?
@anon321 “the baby couldn’t care less if a light towel is used to cover the mother’s chest.” Wrong. Plenty of babies, mine included will not eat if their heads are covered or fabric is near their face. As for sex and brushing your teeth…um how do they even compare? No one has to brush their teeth *right now*, no one has to have sex *right now*, when babies are hungry they have to eat RIGHT NOW. And yes, feeding your baby when they are hungry has absolutely everything to do with their welfare. What it actually has nothing to do with is YOUR welfare, look away if it bugs you, no one is obliging you to stare while they eat their lunch.
Actually I tried one of those dugger style cover breast feeding things and it didn’t work. My baby and I would end up both covered in sweat. I don’t know why but my bub was such a sweaty baby and at the time it was a hot Australian summer. No way I was going to overheat him by covering his face and my boob up.
All for breastfeeding and for making it easier for breastfeeding mothers to live their lives, but…no one has time to test your ‘special’ liquids, and the rules apply to everyone, including celebrities and yes, breastfeeding women, famous or not. I’m with Heathrow on this one,
Responded to wrong post
The thing is… it’s a retroactive security measure. There’s zero evidence that ANY explosives have been confiscated in liquids since the rule was instated. Same goes for taking off shoes. They clamp down after something happens (or after an attempt is thwarted)… but it’s costing billions of dollars, not to mention the time being wasted, just to provide some “peace of mind”. Terrorists are adapting to every new rule.
Sure but what else are you going to do? Nothing? Something different? And if so, what? In any event, that’s not the discussion she wants to have. She wants special treatment for moms. Except THAT would also cost money, no?
And you can’t argue that these measures don’t make it harder for people to smuggle sh*t on a plane.
Read up on the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot.
Yes, it’s reactive, but you don’t fail to deal with a potential threat simply because terrorists thought of it first. There’s really no way to calculate what you’ve avoided; you can’t count an incident that did not occur. A little inconvenience, and it is a little in the grand scheme of things, although maybe not to C list celebrities, is a pretty small price to pay for not blowing up at 36,000 feet.
OK, lets just let them bring in gallons of explosives then shall we? Of course it’s retro active, but at least they will have to work a little harder to find a new way to blow everyone up.
If we were truly serious about airline safety, we would go hardcore like Israel. Israel has never had a plane hijacked, and they’re probably hated even more than us.
My great aunt, who was always known as a “Queen Bee” is every server and flight attendant’s worst nightmare. I guess she went to Israel back in the late 1970s and was mouthy with every person she interacted with in the airport and on the plane. Guess who got detained and had a cavity search?
So we should just accept any arbitrary rules the authorities come up with for security theater? Traveling with breast milk is perfectly fine in the US and many countries; certainly I’ve never had an issue with it. Why shouldn’t she advocate for a rule change that many other airports find completely reasonable?
Some countries force you through naked scanners when other countries don’t even have them. All airports will never have identical requirements – it’s your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements of the one you fly in to
It’s not arbitrary. 100 ml is where you get to a point that you have enough chemical to cause a reaction large enough to bring down a plane. My friend worked on the project that determined the level while working at the Lawrence Livermore Lab in California.
Actually, that’s a lie. It depends on the chemical at hand, if you’re doing a reaction, if it’s just a straight chemical, etc.
For most explosives, yes, but for other things, not so much.
Hu?
As others have pointed out, the rules have been in place for years regarding the 100 mls and she did not have the baby with her. As far as wasting the milk is concerned, I’m sure she has a reserve of milk frozen at home and when you are away from the baby, isn’t the pumping more to maintain your supply – the act of pumping simulates the baby sucking and thereby stimulates production.
She also indicated that she pumped during the flight. My hat goes off to her on that one. It’s one thing to do it in public in a spacious room, but seems like a bit of a nightmare doing it in such close quarters — it’s hard enough to read a newspaper without elbowing a seatmate, let alone managing a pump.
I pumped on a plane. It was extremely awkward, and my husband and baby were the only ones in my row. I should have done it more than once as it was a ling flight but it was annoying. Let me tell you, when I got off that plane I was in PAIN! The cabin pressure combined with full boobs…I seriously thought they were going to explode.
( to explain- my little one wouldn’t breast feed so I pumped exclusively)
Pumping sucks but I often did it for relief when the baby simply didn’t want to feed. In hindsight, I wish I had pumped more and frozen it so that I could extend the amount of time the babies had breastmilk. There’s no question that a baby sucking is more efficient so I salute you for your perseverance, patience and dedication. You are an awesome mom!
Aww thanks. That’s so sweet of you to say.
She seems to live for the woe is me attention. I lost respect for her after the Jay Mohr thing. Jay was 1000% JOKING about her post-baby body. He said it as a ridiculous thing because she was so gorgeous and lovely – he was being sarcastic. He apologized that it didn’t come off the way he intended and she STILL kept harping on it over and over like he truly meant she let herself go. His humor just didn’t translate well, but if you know his personality/comedic style, you would’ve understood it.
So, that rant over, I feel for her because pumping IS hard work, but the rules are the rules. Other moms just pump and put it in the proper sized bags/containers and keep each under the 100ml allowed.
I’m 100% in support of breastfeeding…..but seriously it’s breast milk they make more. dump it and move on. rules are rules
Did she think she didn’t have to follow the same rules we do because she’s famous? She must have known the inconvenient rules we need to follow. This wasn’t the last breast milk she’d ever be able pump.
I love that she included all moms, not just breastfeeding ones. As long as you’re feeding your baby healthy food- breast milk or formula- there should be no judgment and we should band together as mothers.
I had a heck of a time producing enough BM for my kid when she was an infant so I totally understand Alyssa’s frustration at having to dump her stash. Yes, she should have known the travel rules. But people make mistakes. It would have been nice if security had let her (or any new mom) just keep the BM after testing.
Her Tweets about this could raise a little awareness for new moms who are traveling thru airports, which would be nice. You have so many things to worry about when you’ve got an infant at home it’s easy to overlook some details like taking enough bottles (or bags) with you when you travel.
If security measures are just “some details” that can be so easily dismissed in your mind, perhaps you shouldn’t travel.
In the US, you can travel with breast milk or formula. I know that because my poor husband chugged a bottle of formula while we (the two of us, and our three little ones) were desperately rushing to catch our flight to Disney. One of the TSA agents saw him and explained that he didn’t have to do it. I thought he was going to throw up and/or cry.
As to the pouring out of breastmilk, I totally get how painful it to watch it get poured out without reaching its intended target. I had emergency surgery when my second was three weeks old, and because of the medication I was on, I couldn’t feed him the BM. But I still had to pump to keep up my supply. I couldn’t even do it myself. I asked my mom to do it, and cried as she did it — even though I knew he couldn’t drink it.
So I get her frustration. And I understand rules, safety on planes, etc. I think we can cut her a break. Is this really something to complain about?
Its not just the U.S. Alyssa would have been fine carry 10oz of breast milk or formula if her baby was with her but her baby was not.
If she had put the breast milk in her luggage and that she check- in she would have been fine. She she had it in her carry on which is not allowed.
This. From what I’ve read she had two 5oz containers of breast milk which WOULD have been allowed if the baby was with her. The baby wasn’t so she’s only allowed ~3oz. I agree that this calls for Heathrow to re-evaluate their regulations. If 5oz of milk is allowed in some situations why not all?
That is weird. I guess they think terrorists can’t have babies?
When the rules first changed, I had to throw out a $40 bottle of shampoo that I’d always been able to put in my carry on. Might not be as important as breast milk, but it was a full bottle wasted. By now, everyone knows the strict rules. Sorry, but I don’t think cutting a person a break for something she can do on the plane is fair. Now she knows she’s just like us
I didn’t mean to cut her a break to circumvent the rules. I meant cut her a break on the sharp criticism she’s receiving because she complained about it/vented her frustration. I agree, rules are rules.
she’s been trying to make herself happen as a “celebrity mommy” for some time now
From what I understood from another article she was actually landing in heathrow and changing planes and had pumped the ten ounces on the flight over. As other posters have mentioned, at that airport you have to go through security again even for connections, which is not the norm. So she wouldn’t have been able to check the breastmilk. I do agree that she should have looked at the rules and realized she would have to go through security again but she may have thought since it was pumped during the flight that it would be ok since most baby stuff is. I flew last week with my six month old, who gets both formula and breast milk, and I could bring all of it and water for mixing. They do a wipe test on you and the diaper bag for explosives and can do a quick test for breastmilk.
It is the case any international transfer passenger goes through security again.I work airside at Heathrow and am subject to all checks every day.Security is tight and sometimes the queue are long too!!!There is UK/EU/U.S. Rules which govern it all,and some passengers do not expect to be searched again,so they get caught with open duty free or other items ,something’s can be transferred to hold baggage with security consent and time ,but I imagine there was no time here.That is if she was transferring and not direct check in
Either way the security staff would not allow any deviations from the rules,as they are also screened and monitored too
Test toiletries??? Never seen such a thing they scan those that you put in plastic bags. They physically scan things such as diabetes pumps that you can’t remove as my son wears one. Rules are rules they are there for a reason. If she was connecting to go to the U.S. then possibly another screening.
In the case where you have a child’s bottle or simply cup they’ll use a test strip. They only make the exception in a few specific circumstances like that.
Actually, it makes me nervous that the airline would have allowed it if she had a baby with her. There are terrorists who strap bombs onto CHILDREN, so even that would not be beneath them. ps: I’m a fan of breast feeding, etc, but a nervous flier!
I don’t know. Rules are rules. They are put in place for a reason. Ranting on twitter is not going to change anything. Safety should always come first. I don’t care if she’s a celebrity. I like her, I was a huge fan of Who’s the Boss. I just can’t take her side on this though.
What dialogue?
The dialogue about her boobs. And the miraculous milk they create, apparently.
As a breastfeeding mom of a 12 month old (pumping at this exact moment actually!) I feel for her. it’s like liquid gold and it sucks to have to toss it down the drain. She should have shipped it home with Fedex or some other carrier, which is what many women who travel for work do.
Ha! I used to pump and be in the computer too. You go girl!
I fly often and do appreciate all precautions airports take. Yes I’m a mom that also breastfed. Rules are rules.
😊
Was she really that inconvenienced by her milk being thrown out?! Presumably baby was at home with a stockpile of milk in the fridge or freezer to consume. And, since she is also presumably continuing to breastfeed or pump as needed every few hours, she has an ongoing supply of milk to give her baby. So what exactly is the really big deal here, with losing just one pumping session’s milk?
Seriously? A Twitter bitchfest over her being inconvenienced due to international security protocol at the airport? SERIOUSLY?!
entitled d listers need to generate their own publicity
For women who are struggling to meet a baby’s supply, that 10 oz can be very precious. The rules are fairly arbitrary and not always based on any scientific analysis of security (which is why they vary so much from place to place.)
Part of the issue is the failure of Heathrow to recognize breastmilk as a unique substance. It is not shampoo. It is more equivalent to medicine, which presumably they would allow. I commend AM for bringing this to everyone’s attention so that they can evaluate and adjust their policy.
She didn’t have the baby with her, so it wasn’t a necessity right then. Most likely she had lots at home and would be able to pump more later. It wasn’t the last drops that she’d ever get from her breast. Rules are there to be followed by everyone. No need to make a big deal about this topic because most people already know about it
Oh dear…
Breast milk is not equivalent to medicine. It is milk. Used to feed a baby. That is all.
It contains immunologic and nutritional components that cannot be replicated by any other substance, including formula. I am a physician and well educated on the subject; not just making stuff up. You literally can prescribe donor milk for ill babies.
It is important even though the baby is not with her because that milk is used for the next time she needs to travel or be away from her baby. Most people have difficulty building up a large stash.
I stand by my opinion that this is a topic worthy of attention and worth of change. I’m disappointed so many people have ragged on her about it. Why would it be a bad thing for them to reevaluate their policy, if they can make an accommodation that helps moms and babies?
I fully agree with and support Alyssa here. Good on her.
Once passed security, airports should all have a small, private lounge for new moms to pump their milk.
My son had food poisoning once and I walked up to the security forgetting I had a big bottle of pedialite in his bottle. They looked at me like I was crazy…I said they could dump it, but I couldn’t buy any at the gate.they put it in a test thing and then handed me the whole bottle back and let me take it. Couldn’t they test her milk in the same way?With that being said he was with me and they could see he was sick. Having a toddler or baby with changes how much of a risk you seem like.
I travel with baby and never have to throw any. But baby was with me.Got only problem in very tiny airpoirt in Slovakia where guy try to tell me Im not allowed having water and formula only 100 ml (I had explained politely that those restrictions doesnt apply when travelling with child at least on most airlines I had travelled with.The baby food jars,drinks and formula is allowed without amount restrictions only thing is jars have to be sealed,not open.But what I dont understand if she pumped out milk earlier -why she didnt put it in her suitcase-u r allowed to as any shampoos,lotions etc.If she didnt have baby with her why she was having that bottle in her hand/handbag?? Or pump it after security check when u can bring it on the plane as any water,alcohol from store.
Btw baby water and food was tested by guy on security check by some machine.And also my buggy as well was checked 3 times!! While we waited for food to be checked-1st by normal screening,then by hand ant on last by hand electronic detector.
No, the 100 ml rule does NOT exist for a good reason, it exists for extremely stupid, security-theatre, let’s-make-the-proles-think-we’re-doing-something, oh-crap-we-can’t-admit-how-stupid-this-is reasons. Google Bruce Schneider, IIRC he has some good takedowns of this nonsense.
As much as I support breastfeeding, rules are rules. Milk is milk. It’s not liquid gold nor is it gasoline. Just take this as a lesson learned, alyssa. 🙂