• In the Kitchen
  • Recipe Index
  • Bento Lunches
  • Life As I Know It
  • Life in Texas
  • Faith Walk Farms

Following In My Shoes

tales of food and family

  • home
  • about
  • press
  • contact me

Breastfeeding In A Plane? Been There, Done That and Wowed My Audience.

October 18, 2011

Share
Pin
Tweet
+1

This past weekend, Barney Kneeknuckles and I flew to Oklahoma for a quick, semi-impromptu visit with family.  One of my sisters was down from Boise (yeah, that Boise) and as she hadn’t seen the new baby, I thought it a fine excuse for a weekend adventure.

Plus — who doesn’t want to experience flying on a plane with a newborn?  It seemed like the best and brightest idea I had ever had.

(sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm)

Overall, the little tyke did well and garnered quite a few “Awww, isn’t he cute” smiles from everyone — especially older, grandfatherly men.  Those guys LOVED stopping me and commenting on Barney Kneeknuckle’s adorable little self, following their compliments with tales and memories of their own children at that age … telling me to enjoy it while it lasts.

(I wanted to ask them if THEY had enjoyed sleep deprivation when their kids were newborn but I decided to just smile and nod.  I was feeling a bit generous despite being cranky from a lack of rest)

As for the actual plan ride, Barney did nothing but snuggle next to me, nurse, and fill his diaper.  I don’t know WHAT it was about being in the air, but on each flight, that rat filled his diaper — quite, QUITE loudly I might add —  within 20 minutes of taking off.

(To the Southwest passengers and crew, my apologies.  I know he didn’t scream, but he did make his presence known nonetheless and for that I am sincerely sorry)

But, as long as he got free-reign to nurse, Barney had no problems on the plane.  Thankfully, the plane’s engine overwhelmed the sound of his guzzling and gulping and milk-drunk sighs, although if they had been audible we might have avoided one embarrassing encounter with a nosy engineer.

Well, I don’t know that he was an engineer… but he looked liked one … what I THINK an engineer looks like.  And, he was reading “Why We Hate Oil Companies,” so he obviously was somewhat cerebral.  I’m blaming that for his lack of manners.

There I am, Barney Kneeknuckles tucked away under my green and brown nursing cover — suckling away — and the nosy engineer, book unopened on his lap, looks around.  I can tell he is one of THOSE people — one of the chatty types.  The ones who want to sit and talk with you for the entire flight, sharing life stories and their “funny” jokes that they will cause them to guffaw loudly while you politely smile and try to appear interested.

I’m sorry — I know that sounds rude but I am NOT a plane conversationalist.  When I fly, I don’t want to do anything but grip the arm-rests, close my eyes and pray to Sweet Baby Jesus that we land safely.   Yeah, flying kind of freaks me out a bit… just a bit.  It’s really best if I can just stay to myself during the flight and continually remind myself to breathe.  Talking to me doesn’t help the constant “I’m on the brink of a panic attack” mode that I enter once we take off.

Anyway — Mr. Nosy Engineer looked at me.  I could feel his eyes on me but I was busy trying to nurse Barney and trying not to freak out over the fact I was in mid-air with my baby, with only a few feet of metal separating me from a free-fall to earth.

Mr. Nosy Engineer continued to look and I knew he was trying to figure out what I was was doing.  Then, he did it.

He. Leaned. Over. And. Looked.

LOOKED.

Looked over the edge of my “discrete” nursing cover and saw Barney.  And Barney’s Mouth.

And probably parts of my anatomy that God didn’t intend for Nosy Engineers to see.

(After all, I married a financial adviser, not an engineer)

NOW I was looking at him (and about to give him a piece of my freaked out mind) when it finally dawned on him what I was doing.

“Oh, hey … didn’t realize you had a baby in there.”

That was his response.

His apology.

His excuse.

Mr. Nosy Engineer, red-faced and acting sheepish, opened “Why We Hate The Oil Companies” and never let his eyes leave the pages within the book.  Not once.

I turned back to Barney Kneeknuckles — who at that very moment — noisily and (thanks to a dairy sensitivity) “odor-rifically” filled his diaper on that flight.

And THAT’S how a newborn lil’ boy defends his Mama.

You Mess Wit' My Mama ... You Mess Wit' ME!

Share
Pin
Tweet
+1

Get Posts Delivered To Your Inbox

Privacy Policy

About Rachel Lacy

Rachel Lacy is the author of Following In My Shoes, where she blogs about Mommyhood, Family-Friendly Recipes and Bento Lunches, and Life in Texas. She is a lover of all things Coffee and Nutella.
You can also connect with Rachel Lacy on Google+.

« Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
It’s Not Nice To Be Nosy »

Welcome

Who is Rachel LacyMy name is Rachel -- I share tales about food and family. I'm a home-cook who focuses on fresh meals to both fuel us and to help us celebrate our family-life. My day starts with coffee. Lots of coffee.
Read More About Me.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Stay Connected

Recent Recipes

Egg-Nog Caramels

Egg-Nog Caramels

Simple Orange Cream Frosting for an Easy Peasy Christmas Cookie Party

Simple Orange Cream Frosting for an Easy Peasy Christmas Cookie Party

Flourless Cocoa-Monkey Muffins

Flourless Cocoa-Monkey Muffins

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Recent Bentos

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

I Heart Lunch: Pizza Muffins (grainfree and nutfree)

I Heart Lunch: Pizza Muffins (grainfree and nutfree)

50 Grain-free After School Snacks

50 Grain-free After School Snacks

Favorite Posts

The Things I’ve Learned About Boys

The Things I’ve Learned About Boys

The Things I Hope We Both Remember When I Am 93

The Things I Hope We Both Remember When I Am 93

The Moment Your Four Year Old Announces She Is In Love

The Moment Your Four Year Old Announces She Is In Love

The Clock is Ticking

The Clock is Ticking

Featured

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

Wearing My Game-Day Boots and Making Game-Day Food: Slow-Cooker Asian Barbecue Sausage Bites

Wearing My Game-Day Boots and Making Game-Day Food: Slow-Cooker Asian Barbecue Sausage Bites

Slow-Cooker Paleo Italian Stuffed Peppers

Slow-Cooker Paleo Italian Stuffed Peppers

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs

Shop Bento

Check out my favorite bento and lunch-packing resources!

Copyright © 2023 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Home | About | Contact | Press | Archives | Disclosure | Privacy Policy ·

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. I won't take it personally!!AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy