Did anyone else feel rage at Karen Millen's comments on breastfeeding?

[Hoooray]

According to Karen Millen (who is, notably, a clothing designer and not a child development expert), breastfeeding beyond six months has no benefit for the child, is selfish, and is a sign of addiction.

You're not allowed to get it right as a mother, are you? Bad if you don't breastfeed but also bad if you breastfeed for too long, apparently.

God knows why Karen Millen was being asked for her opinion on the subject in the first place 🙄

I’m really sorry that it has impacted you so much and I hope you’ve overcome those feelings. So many women experience it (I know I did) but I don’t think the answer is to pretend breastfeeding doesn’t have any benefits - I think it should be to increase support for women who want to breastfeed. Genuinely, if you’re finding this thread upsetting, I would suggest giving yourself some space from it - it’s not going to change Karen’s mind! My response was to someone who called it silly and self indulgent to breastfeed so I probably more strident in my response than was needed.

Clothing Brand founder thinks she knows more about healthcare than WHO and thousands of qualified doctors.

Good stuff.

Who is going for their next health appointment with our Karen. Got a lump? Ask Karen. Got a rash. Ask Karen.

Or does Karen just like to spout hot air and pretend she has a fucking clue what she's talking about?

Hmm.

I gain no pleasure, I think it is wonderful . My own sister was breastfed for 3 years. What I hate is the endless posts about how not breastfeeding is child abuse , and if only you tried harder
and I think the OP needs to let go

Just look at all the influencers. 🙄

No-one has said that.

People have said that scientifically, breast milk is better for babies than formula.

I assume you knew that already which is why you put yourself through so much to try, and felt so sad when it didn't work out.

There's lots of things I haven't been able to do which would be best for my baby. I had an emergency C section instead of giving birth vaginally, but that doesn't mean I want people to stop talking about the health benefits of a vaginal birth.

I may have got extremely drunk in my early pregnancy, or I may have got pregnant that night, I'm not sure, but either way if I was pregnant at my 30th birthday party, I had no idea of it. That doesn't mean anyone needs to pretend it's fine to drink 2 bottles of prosecco in pregnancy.

Facts are facts, what we want to do about them and what we can do about them are different things.

I wish they would stop asking random people with no qualifications what they think about breastfeeding. Would they ask her opinion on cancer treatment, or diabetes management, or liver failure? No, because that would be really irresponsible to solicit uninformed opinions about major health decisions from people who don't know what they are on about and then broadcast them to the nation!

So you need qualifications to have an opinion on breast feeding? What qualifications do you have? I take it you must have a masters at least or PHD in biology? What qualifications do any of these posters have that have commented? They’ve asked her because she’s a mother. Surely a mother is able to make their own mind up if they want to breastfeed or not? Unless you think all women need a qualification to be a mother?

She didn't just say "I didn't like breastfeeding" though - if she did, of course that's entirely valid.

She claimed there are no benefits to babies above 6 months old, which is a medical assertion (that's objectively falsifiable).

That's the difference between opinion and misinformation.

So babies shouldn't have breast milk after 6 months? are you also advocating the stopping of formula at 6 months?

I didn't ask for views on breastfeeding, and in any event this is how discussion forums work. You can make whatever points you like, and other people can tell you if they think your points are stupid.

What qualifications do you have btw? Because the pp stated only people with qualifications can have an opinion.

It’s not a mother making up her own mind on whether or not to breastfeed though is it? It’s a woman who no clue what she’s talking about being given a platform to spout nonsense on tv as though it’s legit advice.

Babies have formula until 1, breast milk carries antibodies that protect the baby as well as all the correct nutrition to make up the majority of their diet before 1. What about 6 months that makes it a cut off for you? Should formula babies also stop have formula at 6 months the?

Well people are telling you, your point is stupid to feel enraged by a persons opinion.

But again what qualifications do you have to have that opinion? Are you stupid enough to listen to what a random person says? Hope not.

Karen Millen is simply wrong with this as

• there are clear, scientifically proven benefits of breastfeeding past 6 months

and

• breastfeeding a child is not a sign of addiction, that is daft

And I don't personally feel rage about these comments, just think that they are clearly factually wrong and are a really unhelpful contribution. Presumably, it's obvious to most intelligent, scientifically minded people that she is wrong.

However, that's not a criticism of mums who make other choices or have other situations. We can just accept and support each other.

If you're going to make public medical assertions that contradict common scientific consensus, then yes I'd expect you not only to have qualifications but to have done recent, ground breaking scientific experiments to disprove it.

If you're simply asserting commonly agreed scientific facts, then no, I don't think you need qualifications.

I don't need qualifications to tell you that it's Thursday today, the Earth is round, bees drink nectar and babies need milk.

Have you ever breastfed? Half the women I knew breastfeeding when I was breastfeeding had the same experience I had, they couldn't lose weight while breastfeeding, it was I furiating, I lost weight effortlessly both times I was pregnant, came out 2 stone lighter, then regained it all while breastfeeding.

If anyone likes the feeling of breastfeeding I'd have to assume they're some kind of massocist, over both breastfeeding times it varies from horrifically painful to tolerable. The snuggly newborn feed were lovely for bonding once the horrific pain died down but not because it felt nice.

And I made my own sodding tea, often while feeding a baby in a sling and wrangling a toddler. Who do you think was at the beck and call of feeding mums to make them tea? I can't decide if you're a troll, a man or a mil in her 60s+ who is disgruntled at making tea for breastfeeding daughter in laws

Again no one said you need qualifications to have an opinion.
You’re being belligerent and purposely obtuse repeating this over and over to people.
You should be qualified before you’re broadcast on TV sharing health advice when it comes to babies.
Stating that breastfeeding is selfish and has no benefits after 6 months is dangerous and wrong not least because NHS advice is that solids only begin at 6 months and milk should be a key point of nutrition until 1.

You don't need qualifications to have an opinion on breastfeeding but you do need qualifications to share factual information on breastfeeding, which is what Karen Millen was purporting to do.

She said there are no benefits to breastfeeding after six months. That isn't an expression of opinion, it's a statement of fact, and one she is not qualified to make.

I know we now live in the age of misinformation where experts are derided and we're told we have to respect any old dishonest bollocks as a matter of sacred 'opinion', but actually there are such things as objective truths, and if a person is sharing untrue things as though they are facts, it's completely valid and relevant to point out that they hold no qualifications.

It’s her opinion love, get over it.

You are wrong. Simply stating the poster I quoted who said they think only people with qualifications should have an opinion on breastfeeding… I suggest you read the thread.

People not being able to tell the difference between facts and opinions is the reason Russian disinformation campaigns are so successful.

I suggest you read the thread.

She said this.

”No, because that would be really irresponsible to solicit uninformed opinions about major health decisions from people who don't know what they are on about and then broadcast them to the nation!”

You’re talking nonsense.

The post was quite clearly in the context of this thread which is about being able to give factually incorrect information on tv.