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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

1 2

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Feeling let down by BBC

29 replies

aimingtobeaperfectionist · 02/10/2012 23:02

Im really not impressed by this breast is est programme. The presenter is crap, far too giggly and unprofessional and I really don't feel there's a balanced side for either. I really feel for people who can't bf but I feel fucking proud of myself for making it this far when it was such a struggle. Aaargh!!!! Sorry just need a rant.

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EauRouge · 03/10/2012 00:10

Is it a repeat of that Chrrry Healy one? I saw it the first time it was on. Quite crappily researched and written but I felt sorry for her for being so let down by the system and society, like so many mums are :(

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aimingtobeaperfectionist · 03/10/2012 00:18

Yes it was. It just angered me that it seemed to say 'if you breastfeed you're a woo and its more normal to ff'. there seemed to be no support for anyone. The poor teen who was adamant she was ff had me in tears as she so blatantly wanted to bf but felt ahe couldn't as it was 'weird' and only'old ladies' do it. I'm not a fucking old lady and I bf. and the girl who was feeding in the toilet?! What kind of example is that?! Yes it does happen but please show more support on how to feed in public not 'ooh, I'm so nervous myself!! Tee hee hee!!' as the poor girl bf in public for the first time. How to draw attention to her.... It didn't seem to support either side at all and the only positive note I got from it was... No I can't think of one. Makes me mad programmes like that.

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AnxiousElephant · 03/10/2012 00:24

It was absolutely rubbish, portrayed young mums as unlikely to breastfeed which isn't true where I am. I found recently that the only person who didn't want to discuss breastfeeding antenatally was a mum who had gone through IVF in mid thirties! That person is the only one in 6 months that has not been at all receptive!

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aimingtobeaperfectionist · 03/10/2012 00:27

I thought the only people to come out of it in a good light were the men who all seemed quite supportive- and rightly so. Did nothing for women though and I can't see how it would persuade anyone to try bf or make you feel better about ff so I'm not quite sure of the point?

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EauRouge · 03/10/2012 00:29

It's been a while since I saw it but I remember thinking she had a lot of anger and negative feelings towards breastfeeding because of her experiences. I'm sure she found making the programme useful but I don't think it's very helpful to other mums.

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midori1999 · 03/10/2012 00:30

I have had it paused and have just seen the 'if they're old enough to eat a ham sandwich' comment. Why do they have to portray women breastfeeding 'older' children and in fact, breastfeeding in general, in such a negative light?!

This is like polar opposites to Pink discussing BF on Alan Carr, although I know she didn't go into detail, but I think she totally helped to normalise it.

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SirBoobAlot · 03/10/2012 00:41

I've posted on the AIBU thread about this too. Its about two years old, as when we were filming, DS was nearly one.

It unfortunately could have been so much better. Why did they have to do the breastfeeding cereal thing? I can't tell you how much all of us who went to film hoping to help normalise things were annoyed by that.

Cherry herself was lovely all the time the cameras weren't on.

My favourite thing about it is how cute DS looked, but guess that;s not helpful

Seriously - I felt let down by them too.

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midori1999 · 03/10/2012 00:48

Which Mum were you Sirboobalot? (dim emoticon needed... )

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aimingtobeaperfectionist · 03/10/2012 00:57

Your DS did look terribly cute but I can see how you were not happy. Cherry came across as having a lot of 'issues' do perhaps not the best person to have as presenter. I literally couldn't believe how badly everyone was made to look and there she was 'wondering' why we have the worst breastfeeding rates. Also, she only touched very briefly on feeding past 6 months and I don't think she did it well. I am desperate to feed my baby for as long as she wants but this programme I feel will just keep people thinking its 'weird' or 'wrong' and not that it's advised to bf to at least 2 then for as long as is decided steepen mother and baby. Other countries bf till baby is between 2-4 so why are we made to feel like freaks for feeding past 6 months?!

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Startailoforangeandgold · 03/10/2012 01:04

I'm assuming I'd better not watch this on iPlayer.

I'm guessing that as a mad very extended BFer I will only find myself shouting at the TV.

I mad DH jump yelling at that smarmy awful Aptamil ad.

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HeffalumpsAndGoldenWoozles · 03/10/2012 01:06

I've recorded this to watch later tonight when I'm up feeding DD2, I've liked Cherry Healy in other programmes she's done but looks like I should prepare to be unimpressed with this one. Agree with the comment re Pink the other week she was great although its a shame that bf needs to be 'normalised' when it should be normal already.

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midori1999 · 03/10/2012 01:06

aiming, DD is 15 months (young really!) and I have never been made to feel like a freak or in any way odd for still feeding her. People do ask me about it sometimes and I just explain that the WHO guidelines are until two and beyond and that I plan to feed until self weaning as a) I feel that is best for DD and b) I am too lazy to 'make a plan' to stop, which I would have to do as I had mastitis quite a few times, although only in one breast that I am no longer feeding with, if that makes sense?

I have had a few 'teeth' comments, but I always just explain to people that DD doesn't chew the milk out, so it's all good....

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aimingtobeaperfectionist · 03/10/2012 01:11

Ah that's lovely to hear you're still going strong! Also nice to have a few tips on what to say when people comment. I've found people who don't have kids don't 'get it' and people with kids who didn't extend bf don't seem much better. To be honest I've not had much luck with people but have a fab support off DP and family. Plus I'm enjoying it now! That helps a lot.
I must admit, made DD jump by shouting at tv oops...

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crackcrackcrak · 03/10/2012 04:28

It was shite. I especially hated cherry angst ing at the camera about how long the young couple could 'go on like this' glad they didn't listen to her!

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Spiritedwolf · 03/10/2012 12:23

Am I the only one that thought it was okay then? I remember seeing it first time around and I caught most of it again last night (whilst nursing!).

I feel it worked well because Cherry came at it as someone who was a bit skeptical and because it got her onside with those who also need to be convinced and the programme was originally aired on BBC3 aimed at younger folk so it was good that it tackled the issue in a youthful way.

I'm not saying it was perfect but it did have a lot of air time of breasts being used to feed babies which was amazing. It talked about how great breast milk is - particularly as medicine for pre term babies. It showed that initial difficulties could be overcome, that women can breastfeed in public, that going back to work doesn't have to mean the end of breast feeding, that even if you thought you wouldn't want to bf that you can change your mind and that breastfeeding doesn't have to stop at 6 months, 1 year or 2 years.

Cherry's POV came across as honest, emotional because of her experience and ordinary in terms of being skeptical about benefits, about persevering through difficulties and about full term nursing. Comments about full sets of teeth and ham sandwiches were made before she met the mum feeding her 2(3?) and 5 yr old and she seemed to revise her thoughts about it afterwards.

I felt that even when she started off with an uninformed view it was countered by the people she met. Yes, it would have been better if the young mum had had the role models she felt she needed to breastfeed and if the other woman had been more confident about feeding whilst out so that she didn't end up feeding her baby in the toilets. But this does happen, women do feel like that sometimes and Cherry did try to challenge their attitudes.

A young pregnant woman watching the show is more likely to identify with the mum nervous about feeding in public who does achieve it (and doesn't get stared at despite the film crew and loud discussion of BFing) than with the confident lactivists. The only disappointing thing I thought was the camera focusing on the tiny bit of breast shown, because I doubt anyone walking past would have seen it and body concious mums should know that people would be unlikely to see anything.

I'm not saying it was perfect but I think it was good to raise the subject, and it did meet people where they are emtionally about breast feeding and gently inform them rather than preech down from on high of how they ought to feel. It is a shame given the young mum's thing about celebrity role models that examples of breast feeding celebrities wasn't pointed out.

also feel sad that Cherry didn't get her mastitis treated as she could well have breast fed successfully.

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SirBoobAlot · 04/10/2012 00:32

I'd have been happier with it if it hadn't had the whole breastmilk on cereal thing. Because I know that family, they're actually quite nice - but they did that entirely for the whole "crazy and out there" image, which I think took away from the good it could have done.

I'm the red head in the purple top. DS is blond with a stripey blue / grey t-shirt.

They wanted to film us going in to cafes and challenging them to be better at accommodating breastfeeding mothers. I took part in the "breastfeeding welcome" stickering scheme, but wasn't something I was happy about doing on camera, especially when they obviously just wanted a drama, and when really we were just there trying to prove that breast isn't best: Its normal.

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SarryB · 04/10/2012 12:11

"breast isn't best, it's normal".

Best. Quote. Ever.

I haven't seen this, but will watch it while LO is having his midday nap methinks.

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JacqueslePeacock · 04/10/2012 12:35

Haven't seen the programme, but what's wrong with BM on cereal? 'Twas a good way to get extra calories into my DS!

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SirBoobAlot · 04/10/2012 15:59

Peacock, this was the dad, not the child!!

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JacqueslePeacock · 04/10/2012 18:07

That does change it a bit!!!

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SirBoobAlot · 04/10/2012 18:47

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SarryB · 04/10/2012 19:26

The dad was having BM on his cereal??? WHAT?? You would actually have to pay me to waste my precious expressed milk on an adult.

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SirBoobAlot · 04/10/2012 19:52

I know, right?!

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LittleWhiteWolf · 04/10/2012 20:01

I'd love to switch cows milk for mine on my cereal; Im not keen on the flavour of cows milk whereas mine is yummy and sweet. But I never express enough for extras.

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helsybells · 04/10/2012 20:33

I have to say I too thought it was a good programme (I haven't seen it before). I am currently in a fairly depressed state because I'm struggling so much to breast feed that I've had to resort to expressing and formula. I cry at least once a day because I desperately want to feed my little girl myself and I just can't. And I feel like I'm letting her down by not managing to feed her myself and it was really nice to see someone else on TV who felt the same way as I did. I could totally empathise with the feelings of guilt and letting her baby down that Cherry expressed.