Just about everything about being a brand new, first-time mom can feel like a struggle at times … and not even Keke Palmer is immune to that. While traveling this week, Keke said she faced “breast milk discrimination” at the airport, and her story is one that’s going to sound familiar to a lot of nursing moms out there.
Breast milk discrimination at the Houston airport ruined my mood. I should’ve popped my tit out right then because the discretion and comfort of pumping is thwarted with threats to throw out over 16oz my babies food?!?!!! Why is that not a crime??
I’M A MOTHER for crying out…
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) June 12, 2023
Mom to Leodis Andrelton Jackson, who was born in February, Keke was trying to travel while bringing her baby’s pumped milk along with her, but according to her, the Houston airport wasn’t having it.
“Breast milk discrimination at the Houston airport ruined my mood,” she tweeted earlier this week. “I should’ve popped my tit out right then because the discretion and comfort of pumping is thwarted with threats to throw out over 16oz my babies food?!?!!! Why is that not a crime??I’M A MOTHER for crying out loud.”
Unfortunately, plenty of people could relate.
The replies to Keke’s tweet were full of fellow moms who have been through something similar while traveling.
“I’ve had this issue in soo many airports,” one person tweeted. “TSA really needs to get it together.”
Another wrote: “JFK airport cut the wires in my pump when it went thru baggage check several years ago. Left a sticker on the suitcase indicating that my bag was searched by hand. Do they have any idea how much pumps cost?”
The TSA’s rules for breast milk are different from the rules for other liquids.
As outlined on the TSA’s website, items including breast milk, formula, and baby food do not need to fit in a quart-sized bag when you’re traveling, since they are considered “medically necessary liquids.”
“Although not required, to expedite the screening process, it is recommended that formula and breast milk be transported in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches,” the guidelines say.
Taking this into account, Keke never should have run into any issues while going through security.
This isn’t the first time Keke’s gotten real about motherhood.
A few weeks after she gave birth to baby Leo, she took to Instagram to praise single moms for everything they do, because she was running into enough challenges while having boyfriend Darius Jackson by her side.
“I just want anybody out there that’s a single parent that’s been doing this,” she said at the time. “Friends of mine, people that I don’t know, family members of mine — [know that] I really am, in my heart — it brings tears to my eyes. I am just truly, profoundly impressed.”
This article was first published here. You can read the original article in full here.