Little known chick-lit writer had anti-bf rant in local rag

[Udderly]

www.herald.ie/opinion/columnists/marisa-mackle/marisa-mackle-breast-is-best-when-its-not-in-public-2508344.html

In reaction to the Miranda kerr pic. What a small minded woman. Anyone actually heard of her?

Sounds more like she's insanely jealous of the way the model Miranda Kerr looks and has focused her rage on an easy target, ie, her breastfeeding her baby.

What a lazy journalist.

It's not like it's even a really long intensive article. Basically her opinion comes from the fact that It Makes Her Uncomfortable.

Newflash super-journo. You're in the minority there. Keep your head down for a bit.

WriterOfDreams was also going to suggest that you try a local bfing group, it's fab to meet other bfing mums and it means if you meet up outside of the group setting then you feel a bit more secure if there are a few of you :) I would have gone insane without going out of the house but am crap at socialising/small talk etc but found that DD was a fab distraction because I could just sit her on my knee and play with her and not really have to talk too much but could at least get out; plus it is very easy to chat about how old your baby is/how they're sleeping/all the other questions you get asked over and over again with a small baby.

I was really nervous at bfing in public to start with but have never had any negative comments whatsoever (and one or two nice ones :)) and two years on still bf in public occasionally and still no one says anything :)

DirtyMartini I read half your first post and went off to read her reviews on Amazon, then came back and read the rest! Was going to say exactly the same thing - I know a published author on there who has plenty of five star reviews and I recognise about 80% of the reviewers' names

In case you're googling, Marisa, I concur with the rest of this thread in thinking you are a colossal twat. Cheers!

There is legislation in Ireland to support breastfeeding in public places. I never had any problems, north or south in Ireland, except for dh's family. I never had a poncho .

Marisa had better not go to Scotland. The fact that babies and children here have legal protection to be fed in public whenever they feel like it up to the age of 2 will probably tip her over the edge.

Some people need to get a life.

Beveridge... see stlegers post above... babies and mothers here have the same protection. Despite our bad press we're actually a very nice country to bf in.... we just don't have great bf-ing rates unfortunately

I really need to stop reading things like this as I do feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. No matter how many times I tell myself it is fine I just can't help worrying that someone is going to say something. I am happy in places I feel comfortable in but not new places. Yesterday I had to feed in a supermarket cafe full of builders and businessmen and I turned my chair practically to the wall and then reprimanded myself for being so pathetic.

The only person who caught my eye gave me a big smile too!

I love that picture. She looks so pretty, relaxed and happy. It's such a positive image of breastfeeding.

How dare this woman suggest that Miranda Kerr posed for it to make others feel bad?

What a stupid woman!

That picture of her tucking her saggy bags behind her knees is revolting.

WriteOfDreams I've pm'd you.

Bags? Baps!

Damn you auto-spell checker!

The Herald is a shitty evening newspaper in Ireland with shitty views. Oh and it's full of shit. Marisa Mackle is a C lister looking for some publicity. Think she wrote a childrens book last year which she got a former Miss World to 'illustrate'. WriterofDreams, please don't let that article influence you. You've done really well to pluck up the courage so far, please keep it up:)

Bustle, are you trying to say this newspaper etc is shit or something?

KM - I was looking for her shopping bags! :)

Tiktok, I wasn't being particularly eloquent there, was I? :) I think I got my point across though;)

:o at [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/marisa-mackle/ this]]

'When she's not traveling or relaxing in the south of Spain, Marisa lives in her home in Dublin and loves to socialize with her girlfriends. Marissa has one memory of Valentines Day that sticks out! "One Valentine's I remember going out for dinner to a fancy restaurant. Georgina and Nicky from Westlife were sitting beside me and my boyfriend. I was so busy trying to eavesdrop on their conversation that my boyfriend got in a huff and we ended up arguing!" '

Fecking brilliant. :o

link

oh, go arn, it's funny. She sounds so blimmin' vacuous. I think her breastfeeding friend is well rid :o

I too have just pinged them off an email. And I told them that it was the strangest article on breastfeeding I have ever read. What a sad little woman she is!

writerofdreams I am so sorry to hear that this prat has caused you distress. Congratulations on your baby and on getting out and about - I remember that first 'public feed' and how nerve-wracking it was - so well done for managing it. BTW my DS went on to BF for 2.3 yrs (though only at bedtime from about 14mo). I never got any dodgy comments or sneering whilst feeding in public - only supportive smiles. And my irish mum who bottlefed both me and my brother (and who did find our extended bfing a wee bit weird) is now a complete advocate of natural term breastfeeding.

I hope it went well at the BF group today - your HV might also know of baby groups locally that are good for meeting people and I'm sure you won't get any dodgy comments from other newbie mums. I just wanted to say that many of the other mums are probably feeling just the same as you - early days with a newborn are really hard and really isolating. Don't be afraid to reach out to others - chances are they will be so glad to have a chance to talk to another mum whose going throught the same wonderful (and occasionally terrifying) rollercoaster ride.

www.herald.ie/lifestyle/femme/should-women-breast-feed-in-public-2514975.html

The above is a link to Marisa's response to the furore her article caused. There are links to other reader's responses on the same page.

Oh, the old 'bfing is ok as long as it's done discreetly' thing.

So who ARE these women that supposedly 'whip 'em out' at every available opportunity? These mythical creatures, none of whom I have ever seen or met that apparently lurk exclusively in public places solely to outrage and offend unsuspecting decent people with their weapons of lass lactation.

"Despite our bad press we're actually a very nice country to bf in.... we just don't have great bf-ing rates unfortunately" Sounds just like Scotland, Summerrain!

Sounds about spot on with the ishoos then ... Better, but she's still a twat.

I do think that the getting your boobs out through the neckline of your top rather than hoicking it up would come under the heading of indiscreet and it does tend to catch my eye, but if it doesn't bother the mum who's nursing then I don't see why it should bother me.

Today is the first time I ever saw someone breastfeeding in public. I breastfed for a while, but admit I tended to express as I was a bit uncomfortable with popping my boob out in front of people. Seeing someone else had the courage to just get on with it and not mind really made me feel warm and happy inside, as silly as that sounds!

I have bf three and never bf in public but truly wish more ppl would as it would just make it more 'normal' I felt I had to go in the spare room even at family houses and probably would have fed longer if I hadn't felt like this.

I think Bustle put it best TBH. I don't see the balanced feature I was expected and I'm very surprised she got opportunity for another rant. I'm sorry for her bad experience breastfeeding, and there are obviously unresolved issues there, but I really think her views are unacceptable in this day and age.

Having read Ms Mackle's second article about BFing I actually feel quite sorry for her now. She obviously had a traumatic experience with BFing and I think she has a lot of guilt around the fact that she couldn't continue to BF her own baby. It seems to me that she's attacking BFing mothers because it reminds her of her own sense of inadequacy.

Also, in my 28 years I've never ever seen a woman BFing indiscreetly. I'm curious, has anyone actually seen someone whip their boobs out for the world to see?

Yes, MM had a bad experience, and it obviously caused her sadness, fear and even anger at the time.

I do feel sad for her.

But she is a grown up. She does not have to use these feelings to publicise criticism of other women who don't feel embarrassed to bf in public. It's called being mature and getting over yourself and realising the world does not revolve around you and so on.

The story she tells about the woman who breastfed on a long train journey beside her, who was a 'real lady' because she used a pashmina and no one even realised she was bf - I think this is made up. A pashmina can be helpful, but it does not totally stop all views of breastfeeding unless you have a very compliant baby indeed. If it happened, then this mother was just unusual with her baby and her pashmina-and-breast manipulation skills.

These constant demands to be discreet, to use pashminas, not to let anyone see anything, put huge pressure on mothers.

And I thought she was against putting pressure on mothers?