American airports are increasingly sporting “breastfeeding pods”, but the trend is sparking a lot of debate about whether they are creating more problems then they are solving.
Their purpose is to give nursing mums privacy but a recent thread on Mumsnet, gave an insight into how women are feeling about the invention.
“Saw this at Miami Airport. What do we think about locking breastfeeding women in cupboards? I think it is a bit weird and sad,” noted one Mumsnet user, who shared a photo of the pod online on Sunday.
Here is what breastfeeding looks like around the world. Post continues after video.
Many agreed.
“I hate this! Why can’t we just sit in a cafe?,” wrote one.
“Try making breastfeeding more acceptable in public and see whether breastfeeding pods are necessary,” wrote another.
But many were in support.
“I had a baby with a tongue tie and latching problems. Had to get out my whole breast to feed in public and found it excruciating. I would have loved a pod like this for those early days,” wrote one mother.
“It’s by choice not force. Some people prefer to breastfeed in private, whether for religious reasons or personal preference,” said another.
The pods which are built by lady startup Mamava are just under three metres in size, and cost AUD $35,000.
They’ve been installed across dozens of American airports over the past few years, and have started popping up in hospitals, at concerts and in workplaces.
Top Comments
"The Australian Breastfeeding Association says they’re happy to support anything that makes women comfortable." which sums up my view.
Obviously I have no direct experience here, but from what I have read some mothers (for whatever reason) do prefer privacy. No-one is being hurt here and it's down to personal choice whether to use them or not. Everyone wins
100% agree. No one is saying you can only breastfeed in the pod. For women who value privacy when breastfeeding, this sure as hell beats a stinky parents room!
Jesus, you can't win. Provide a place where Mums can express and feed, and you get accused of not supporting them. How about supporting those Mums who don't want to do everything in public? Are we going to mandate that all women should pump in public now?? What's wrong with giving women a choice to feed in a private setting that isn't a public toilet?