While breastfeeding, I wasn't offered a seat on the London Underground – it made my blood boil

A woman has shared her outrage after having to stand on the tube while breastfeeding her baby because no one would offer her a seat.

Samantha Holmes, 29, and her husband Jarred, 35, boarded the train at London Euston hoping they would find a seat so Samantha could feed their two-month-old daughter Celine.

The mother of two and a nurse claimed none of the other passengers even “acknowledged” her, despite her daughter acting “hysterical.” And so she was forced to feed her baby standing up.

The couple remained standing for the entire route, finally getting off the Metropolitan line train at Wembley Park.

Samantha has since criticized commuters for their insensitivity to her plight. She said: 'It was about seven o'clock in the evening on the way back on the tube.

'Our daughter was experiencing quite a bit of wind and nothing I did could comfort her.

'So we were standing initially and I expected someone to give me a chair while she was so hysterical. But no confirmation, and I just told my husband to feed her.”

Samantha highlighted the struggles mothers faced with feeding while traveling on public transport, saying they felt 'invisible'.

She also recalled being so furious that her “blood boiled” – and she even asked her husband to document the incident.

She continued, “It's hard enough to keep your balance on your own, let alone when you're trying to feed a two-month-old. Then I told my husband to take a picture of this because 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 who are nervous about feeding in public, that could have led 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 seats for anyone who needs them.

The mother of two and a nurse claimed none of the other passengers even “acknowledged” her, despite her daughter acting “hysterical.” And so she was forced to feed her baby standing up (Picture: Samantha with her husband Jarred, 35, and their daughter Celine)

It adds: 'If one is not available, ask someone to give up a seat. You can request an 'Offer me a seat' badge and card or a 'Baby on Board' badge to help you get a seat if you need one.”

The news comes after research found that only six in 10 commuters would give up their seat for an expectant mother.

The survey of 2,000 regular public transport users also found that one in four commuters had not given up their seat for a woman they suspected was pregnant, in case she wasn't actually expecting one.

The survey also found that adults believe there is no need to offer your expectant mother a seat until she is visibly visible.

Researchers found that competing for a seat during the morning or afternoon rush hour can cause passengers to neglect their manners or fail to notice pregnant women.

The research was commissioned by Mama Mio skincare as part of their I'm Expecting campaign, which encourages expectant mothers not to be afraid to ask someone to give up their seat.

Anna Whitehouse, ambassador for the campaign, said: 'Pregnancy is not a weakness, it is a vulnerability and I felt this especially during my first trimester.

'Busy, hot and cramped conditions during the commute can be incredibly stressful both physically and mentally, and being able to sit can make a difference.

'However, from my own experience I find that people are either too engrossed in their phones to be aware of their surroundings, or do not want to offer their seat unless asked.'