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    Turk TurkletonHillary Crosley Coker
    2/08/16 6:42pm

    This is a great holdover until we get tot the point as a society where a woman can feed her child, from her breast, wherever the hell she wants without people commenting on “how gross” and “indecent” it is that her boobs are out for the world to see (even though they’re mostly covered up by a feeding infant).

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      GinAndTonic Got Stuck in the BarneyTurk Turkleton
      2/08/16 6:47pm

      They’re also used for pumping, which, you have to admit, is NOT the same as breastfeeding a baby.

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      Pie-pieGinAndTonic Got Stuck in the Barney
      2/08/16 6:57pm

      True facts. I got pretty comfortable breastfeeding as needed in public but could never ever contemplate pumping in public. No idea why, my brain just goes straight to a “nope. hard pass.”

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    Pie-pieHillary Crosley Coker
    2/08/16 6:52pm

    This is awesome. Now, all other airports need to follow suit!

    I will say though that the Atlanta airport was the site of my single best breastfeeding-in-public experience. About 2ish years ago, I had to fly to my brother’s marine boot camp graduation with Mini Pie who was around 4-5 months old. We had a long layover in Atlanta and I needed to feed her while we were there.

    I refused to even contemplate using the restroom and didn’t want to be sitting in the regular waiting area seats that were all super crowded. I saw that one of the areas filled with rocking chairs where a few terminals meet was empty so I sat down in a chair to try and get her fed as quickly as possible.

    I was wearing a nursing tank and had a blanket slightly draped over my shoulder and the back of her head to somewhat shield people but she always refused to nurse completely covered so if you were nosy and stared for longer than a couple seconds you could probably see what we were doing. I was always sure to be well versed in the rules and regulations regarding public feeding regardless of where I was so I knew I was allowed to do this but was still girding myself for some a-hole to say something to me.

    As I’m feeding her and trying to relax a bit, I see this older woman approaching me. I tense up, ready for an argument and she gets close enough to quietly whisper “Hi honey, I don’t want to bother you but I remember these days and how important it was to stay hydrated so I bought you this bottle of water. Here, I’ll pull a table over for it so you don’t have to juggle. Do you need anything else? No? Well ok, take care of yourself now!”

    I don’t even think I managed to say actual words to her besides nodding and a strangled thank you. I was so overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness when I was ready for a fight that it’s become one of my all time favorite memories.

    So just remember. Even though we read a lot of shit about shaming breastfeeding women and lack of facilities, there are still a lot of people who support you and who are working for change.

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      kernkernkernPie-pie
      2/08/16 6:55pm

      I hope that sweet little old lady ended up with an empty seat next to her on her plane - she deserved it for being a good human!

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      DiosabellaPie-pie
      2/08/16 6:56pm

      I don’t know if I’m just having a particularly hater day, but damn, that story just made me tear up. <3

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    thatsjustmyhairHillary Crosley Coker
    2/08/16 6:53pm

    whuuuut. Atlanta airport is awesome! They have minute suites, which without fail I will empty my wallet for, even for a short layover.

    now jfk. that place is a shithole.

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      GinAndTonic Got Stuck in the Barneythatsjustmyhair
      2/08/16 6:58pm

      Atlanta is fucking miserable. God help you if you have a short window to catch your connecting flight that requires either a 2 mile sprint or a race to jam into the Plane Train.

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      smacd thatsjustmyhair
      2/08/16 6:59pm

      Seriously! The Atlanta airport is far better than many other crappy, cramped, dark airports in the country. Also: One Flew South.

      Not at all surprised they’d be one of the first to have nursing rooms.

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    logruszedHillary Crosley Coker
    2/08/16 6:48pm

    This seems like only a half-step forward. Like it’s about 50% as offensive as saying “Look they used to have no place to drink but now blacks get their own drinking fountain”.

    Breastfeeding isn’t some creepy or shameful act that need to take place out of the eyes of the public.

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      GinAndTonic Got Stuck in the Barneylogruszed
      2/08/16 6:50pm

      Yes, but they’re also used for pumping, which is an activity that most women would still prefer to do in private.

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      Kris-the-Needlessly-Defiantlogruszed
      2/08/16 7:15pm

      I breastfed in public often, but breastfeeding rooms do serve a purpose. Often they’re the cleanest place in the surrounding area. Also, when you have other young kids in tow you appreciate a space to contain them while you feed the little one. A particularly awesome breastfeeding room I went in once even had toys and coloring books for older siblings.

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    EdithPrickleyHillary Crosley Coker
    2/08/16 6:55pm

    Chicago recently added some of these as well, and I believe LaGuardia included one in a recent upgrade to one of their concourses. I’m done pumping for my son, but I hope they become more common. I had to pump standing in the open in a restroom at LaGuardia and in a parking garage at Logan.

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      Kris-the-Needlessly-DefiantEdithPrickley
      2/08/16 7:11pm

      Pumping in a restroom in LaGuardia sounds like one of the seven circles of hell.

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      Slay.douché - (dreams to be a puppy)Kris-the-Needlessly-Defiant
      2/08/16 7:29pm

      Most things @Laguardia do. :)

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    Ari Schwartz: Dark Lord of the SnarkHillary Crosley Coker
    2/08/16 8:34pm

    The problem here is that it still means you’re probably flying Delta.

    :-(

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      XyzzyHillary Crosley Coker
      2/08/16 8:20pm

      Previously, the only areas moms could really breastfeed at Hartsfield were public restrooms...

      Actually in Georgia women can breastfeed anywhere they are otherwise legally allowed to be. So that means they can just sit at the gate and nurse. And give the side eye to anyone who tries to give them a hard time.

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        Virginia is for FightersHillary Crosley Coker
        2/09/16 8:06am

        I used them two weekends ago when I was in Atlanta! I think they’re sponsored by Seventh Generation or something like that. But they are great. They’re quiet(ish), you can set your stuff down, there are shelves for pumps or other crap and you can sit back with your baby and nurse in peace.

        All in all - I was very pleased with my ATL breastfeeding experience in the pods. Plus they are portable! So hopefully more airports will get them.

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          cew-smokeHillary Crosley Coker
          2/08/16 6:44pm

          Okay, what are the odds that these pods have been used to generate a situation, where 9 months later they will be used for their originally intended purpose?

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            Kim Jong's Angstcew-smoke
            2/08/16 6:45pm

            100%

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          blackbird2727Hillary Crosley Coker
          2/08/16 7:11pm

          excellent! I was once delayed for a long time at Oakland airport, and they told me I needed to use the bathroom to pump... the only plug was in the open near the sinks. I opted for pain...

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