Bloody disgrace! Holby City Breastmilk Pumping Scene!

[organiccarrotcake]

Just watching Holby (idiot I am) and a character, a doctor, was in the LOO expressing milk. Another doctor found her, pulled a face like she was going to vomit, and had pumping mum rush out apologising for being "unprofessional". Doctor 2 then asked her why she was back at work if she's "still" breastfeeding.

FFS

I didn't watch the episode but I thought I should share my story of the attitude of my colleagues when I returned to work when my son was 8.5 months old.

I work as a registered nurse in a hospital in the North West of England. I informed my manager of my intention to express my milk at work and was provided with a clean private room in which to do this. I stored my expressed milk in a sealed bottle in the staff fridge and then took it home in a cool bag at the end of the day.

I was aware that this was a bit of a novelty with my colleagues which I can understand. However, one of my colleagues, also a registered nurse, asked me if I would store my expressed milk in a bag out of sight as the sight of it in the staff fridge was offending some people. In my initial shock I was actually holding back tears.

I have never got over this and it has made me more determined than ever to ensure that my children get the best possible start in life. Reading "The Politics of Breastfeeding" by Gabrielle Palmer has helped me to come to terms with and understand why some people react as they do to breastfeeding.

I have since moved to another ward where the staff are more tolerant and I am "still breastfeeding" my son now he is 2 years old and I work full-time, though I no longer express.

Plentyofparsnips, I'm not a regular viewer of Holby City so I don't know the characters. I'm not pretending some people aren't horrified at the thought of breastfeeding and I'm not saying Holby City shouldn't show it - you're right, it could make an interesting storyline and highlight issues breastfeeding mothers face especially in the workplace.

The problem in my view is that the doctor who was expressing did nothing to defend herself in the scene, and actually apologised, and described herself as "unprofessional".

If a nasty character was in a scene making a face at the sight of someone's wheelchair, forced them to apologise for taking longer to get to a meeting because they had to use the ramp instead of nipping up the stairs, and asked them why they had bothered to return to work when they can't walk, would we expect the scene to pass without comment or disciplinary action against the nasty character, or the wheelchair user even sticking up for themself?

Maybe Jac will get her comeuppance.

I have just sent a complaint about this portrayal to the BBC.

I found it utterly disgraceful- the thing that really got me was the "unprofessional" comment. Erm I actually thought that it was highly professional for her still to be breastfeeding on return to work- as a medic she should be up on all the current evidence which says 6 months exclusively with advice to continue beyond for up to a year and beyond, in my eyes making her more professional cos she is practicing what her profession and the scientists who do the research for her profession, preach.

We aren't going to change attitudes if this is the kinda nonesense we are up against. More frighteningly on babycentre, many are chuffed because bf was mentioned on a mainstream program. Yes it was, but in a pretty negative light. How sad that that portrayal seems to making some happy??

babycentre and babycentre

I've had a response from the BBC. Has anyone else? They helpfully point out:

"The reason Sahira was in the staff toilets breastfeeding was simply because when you're breastfeeding, if you don't empty your breasts regularly they can become painful. "

Doesn't really explain why she was in the toilet doing it, but thanks BBC, you obviously have a real expert there to explain the technical ins and outs of breastfeeding to me.

Ah well, I'm over it now.

FFS that obviously explains why tv storylines can't do bf ..

Why, because people complain when a character is attacked for breastfeeding and doesn't stick up for herself? Coupled with an unrealistic portrayal (pumping in the loo when she would have the legal right to a much nicer location)?

Here's my response in full form them:
'We understand you were unhappy with the portrayal of breastfeeding in Holby City on 15 February 2011.

We disagree that breastfeeding was portrayed in a negative light during this episode. If anything, we were showing that a woman can come back to work and still breastfeed.

Jac's comments to Sahira were the character's views on breastfeeding. Jac is an alpha, career-driven woman who is being incredibly competitive with Sahira - so she's going to snipe and be dismissive of her. Fictional characters do sometimes display behaviour which we personally do not believe is right or acceptable, and her views aren't those of the programme or the BBC.
The reason Sahira was in the staff toilets breastfeeding was simply because when you're breastfeeding, if you don't empty your breasts regularly they can become painful.

We would like to assure you that we?ve registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.

Thanks again for contacting us.'

Pah. Still, we made our point!

Incredible. standard response then? That's exactly what I got. I have responded to that because of their patronising tone- "The reason Sahira was in the staff toilets breastfeeding was simply because when you're breastfeeding, if you don't empty your breasts regularly they can become painful." and "Fictional characters do sometimes display behaviour which we personally do not believe is right or acceptable"

Noooooooo.......she's fictional?? I thought I was watching a hospital based version of the Trueman show!!

Cheeky ba**ds!

Disgraceful - I have also made my complaint

www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/

Here's the response I got from the BBC:

"Thanks for contacting us.

We understand you were unhappy with the portrayal of breastfeeding in Holby City on 15 February 2011.

We disagree that breastfeeding was portrayed in a negative light during this episode. If anything, we were showing that a woman can come back to work and still breastfeed.

Jac's comments to Sahira were the character's views on breastfeeding. Jac is an alpha, career-driven woman who is being incredibly competitive with Sahira - so she's going to snipe and be dismissive of her. Fictional characters do sometimes display behaviour which we personally do not believe is right or acceptable, and her views aren't those of the programme or the BBC.
The reason Sahira was in the staff toilets expressing milk was simply because when you're breastfeeding, if you don't empty your breasts regularly they can become painful. "

standard response then! they need more emails I think!