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Pregnancy

Being patronised.

8 replies

curlyclaz13 · 20/04/2013 10:49

Why is so much pregnancy info in such a patronising tone ? I have just started reading 'The womanly art of breastfeeding' and it is making me angry ! most websites are the same and even bloody sales (bloody emma's diary selling info on !) people talk to me like I am stupid. Where is there a good source of info that is in 'normal' English so I can find facts and make my own choices ?

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SuffolkNWhat · 20/04/2013 10:51

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drawohamme · 20/04/2013 15:43

I second babycenter, almost everything else treats you like you're a moron. DH keeps reminding me that a lot of this stuff is being written for idiots and I should be patient (compliment?!)

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mrspaddy · 20/04/2013 15:49

Have you read What to Expect ? I think it is fairly informative without being too patronising. It is dull though. I only dip in now and again.

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MiaowTheCat · 20/04/2013 15:56

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Guitargirl · 20/04/2013 16:05

I remember being told off by my own mother for referring to the paediatricians on the post-natal ward as 'baby doctors'. I was just copying how all the midwives referred to them!

I think it is important to remember though that pregnancy is one of the few health conditions that can potentially affect mass numbers of women with a range of backgrounds/IQs/language abilities. The majority of information produced has to be digestable by all women who might need it.

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fertilityFTW · 20/04/2013 18:38

I've had a different consultant at each and every appointment (high risk for low BMI) - and each is more patronising than the last. It's driving me crazy and I have to suppress serious rage after most of the talking down...grrr. Fair enough maybe for a publication that has to go out to mass audience with different levels of understanding - but if you're interacting with someone, surely you can gauge their level of comprehension and not automatically equate 'pregnant' with 'dense'.

Oh, and the form I had to sign to consent to elcs for breech under type of operation reads - 'cut in tummy for baby' Hmm

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SomethingOnce · 20/04/2013 21:44

When Phil, 'the baby doctor', introduced himself on the postnatal ward, I so wanted to ask him to run along and fetch a grown-up.

I understand why they take this approach though. Far preferable for me to feel a bit Hmm than for anyone to ever feel Confused

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Springforward · 20/04/2013 21:48

I think "the womanly art of BF" is particularly bad to be honest, I read it while doing peer supporter training and despite being very pro BF it actually made me feel angry! I later leant it to a friend for the advice on latch but warned her that she might also want to throw it across the room when she got to lifestyle-y bits.

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