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 🙄

That’s not the point, using her platform to perpetuate this narrative that breastfeeding toddlers is abnormal was wrong, unfortunately not everyone is as educated as you

I didn’t know she said this, but it is evidently stupid. Aside from labelling mothers as selfish addicts for making normal parenting choices, the medical science is against her. The WHO and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding until age 2. It benefits the immune system and a child’s Myofunctional development.

She's said this as nobody who breastfeeding can fit into her clothes!

Me.
Millen is allowed opinions, even controversial ones. Breastfeeding is important, extended breast feeding is up to the individual. I am pretty neutral about it. I am also increasingly tired of these spasms of outrage at other people's opinions.

But if you’re that enraged and feel that strongly about it then what are doing other than making comments on a post on MN? I honestly couldn’t care less about the comment she made. Not worth my time or energy to get so heated up about. I wouldn’t let a stranger make me feel that way.

I don't understand what you're trying to say. On the one hand you point out that lots of people in America are listening to and following the advice of RFK even though he's not an expert, and on the other you're saying people can recognise when a person isn't a credible source and won't believe them. Which one is it?!

Past 6 months is not "extended". Babies are nutritionally dependent on breast milk or formula (which is just an artificial substitute for breast milk) until at least 12 months and natural weaning age isn't until at least 2.5.

What part of the sisterhood is that? Is it the same sisterhood that tells people to fuck off just because you disagree with them? God forbid another woman has a different opinion to you.

I don’t understand what she thinks we should do with breastfed babies at 6months old?

I exclusively breastfed both of mine, not necessarily through choice, neither would entertain a bottle whether it contained breast milk or formula. So, should I have just stopped giving them milk at all? And immediately placed them on to 3 meals of solids a day, at 6 months old?!

As it was, they both breastfed until 18months when I chose to stop. Happy babies, happy mum. Genuinely don’t see why anyone else would have an opinion on how I chose to feed my babies. Good god, it couldn’t be anything further from addiction - I had to peel them off in the end as I was ready to stop.

My breasts, my babies, my choice.

Me.

OP is unreasonable for giving this headspace let alone feel rage over it.

Surely many women continue to bf as it's the best way of settling a child, is good for their own overall breast health and still confers benefits with antibodies etc? They don't do it out of a sense of martyrdom. I bf my youngest a couple of times a day until he was about 15 months and barely thought anything of it. No one else's damn business, ridiculous woman.

Me too

Do those of you saying 'I don't personally care about this issue and am therefore absolutely incapable of comprehending why anyone else would' realise how self-absorbed you sound or do you need it pointed out...?

I didn’t say lots of people in America are listening and following advice from RKJ. I said look what’s happening in America… hence misinformation is giving out by someone who has no credibility. Much like Karen Millen. You don’t have to be smart to know better than to listen to these quacks.

Didn't feel rage no, actually felt a bit embarrassed for her, showing such ignorance. She obviously has no idea what she's talking about. It's a silly fluff programme but if they're going to have discussions like this, they should have a medical expert or doctor on to give accurate information!

I'm going to get flamed for this, but actually I think many children miss the window of opportunity for introducing solids, it probably should be around 4-5 months (and it's been found that this is optimal for avoiding food allergies too). If you leave it too late, yes, they will refuse.

I'm not enraged. I do believe she's an uneducated woman who is using her platform to spread misinformation and I am disappointed.

I am a mental health professional. I support women through postpartum depression every day.

Why would she comment on breastfeeding? Isn’t she a designer?

They probably just think the people that “do care” are massively overreacting and irrationally sensitive to get so worked up over a comment from a nobody and find it amusing that they can’t comprehend other mothers don’t feel the same way. Other than posting a thread about it in MN what do they think is really going to happen? I think that sums it up.

Then maybe you need to look at what's happening in America more closely because people ARE listening to RFK and there has been a measurable reduction in vaccine uptake as a direct result of his comments and policies. So much as it would be nice to shrug and say 'nobody listens to these idiots anyway', we know that's not true. People do listen.

And as I said upthread - the issue isn't really whether or not a breastfeeding mum will listen to Karen Millen. It's about the hostility breastfeeding mums already face and how comments like hers contribute to that. I've already been asked by people I know if I'm 'still breastfeeding' and my baby is only five months old. Women frequently face negativity, discrimination and harassment when breastfeeding, and Karen Millen's comments - which were not merely opinions but misinformation presented as fact - were disseminated to a wide audience and will indisputably contribute to the hostile environment breastfeeding mothers regularly face.

Me too. As I said earlier, no one is obliged to fly your flag or fight your battle.
People, even famous ones, are allowed to think differently to you.

@Hoooray I have not seen the clip but I do think as always with babies, breastfeeding etc everything gets very polarised. It would be much better if nuanced.

Some mums really, really struggle to BF but try everything and express milk for months whilst being super stressed (seen many myself). Stress is not good for baby or mum!

It's counterintuitive, but having worked with people in the food allergy field, there is actually some evidence that shows that early introduction to formula results in a DECREASED risk for food allergies. To do with the dual-allergen exposure but of course, like with most of these studies - they are observational.

Absolutely agree. It's really bizarre. Somehow it's empowering to get your boobs out for only fans or the like. Yet feed your child usually discreetly barely anyone would even know of be affected by it and its disgusting. I'm boggled anyone even cares to comment how someone else feeds their child.