Breastfeeding woman ‘feels invisible’ as Tube passengers fail to offer her a seat
A mother who was forced to stand on a Tube train while breastfeeding her baby because no one offered her a seat says she was left feeling “invisible”.
Samantha Holmes, 29, wanted to sit down after getting on at Euston on the London Underground so she could feed her baby Celine.
But she claims none of the other passengers even “acknowledged” her – so she had to breastfeed standing up.
The mother of two and her husband Jarred, 35, eventually alighted the Metropolitan Line train at Wembley Park.
Ms Holmes, a registered nurse from Nottinghamshire, said the incident made her “blood boil”.
She said: “It was about 7pm at night on the way back on the Tube.
“Our daughter had had some bad trapped wind and nothing I was doing was consoling her.
“So we were standing initially and I’d expected someone to give me a seat with her being so hysterical.
“But no acknowledgement, and I just said to my husband I’d have to feed her.
“It’s hard enough to keep your balance on your own, never mind whilst trying to feed a two-month-old child.
“That’s when I said to my husband, take a photo of this as I couldn’t believe it. I felt invisible – could anyone even see me?
“Everyone had their heads down.
“I’m comfortable breastfeeding so that doesn’t affect me.
“But for some people that are nervous to feed in public – that could have caused them to stop breastfeeding.
“I just couldn’t believe it. My blood was boiling.”
According to the Transport for London website, all buses, Tubes, trains and trams have clearly marked priority seats for anyone who needs them.
It adds: “If one isn’t available, ask if someone will give up a seat.
“You can apply for a Please Offer Me a Seat badge and card or a Baby on Board badge to help you get a seat if you need one.”