channel 4 breastfeeding programme

[lazycow]

Just thought people might be interested if you don't already know.

Channel 4 on Weds 1 Feb. A programme called Extraordinary Breastfeeding is on. The write up in the magazine I'm looking at says:

"You'll be texting your friends about this as soon as it starts. It's about the phenomenon of mothers who breastfeed their kiddies well beyond the age considered 'normal' in this country. Seeing a feisty mum breastfeed her two-year-old twin isn't that disturbing, but the sequence of another lady suckling her 7 year old dughter isn't one we will forget in a hurry. "

I'm looking forward to seeing the tone it takes.

I didn't see this programme but have heard discussions on the radio and in the street. All anybody talks about is the crazy woman feeding her older daughters. This has done breastfeeding woman a great diservice and has made breast feeding a topic for ridicule.
Breast feeding a baby should be commented and supported, bf a toddler, ok, but a child yuk yuk yuk.

daisy - the programme is next weds. on ch. 4 !

really nanneh, omg will they be discussing it for a whole week then. I'm switching to cds in the car can't stand any more.

How long, do you reckon, before someone makes a formal complaint to the police / social services etc about the breastfed 7 or 10 year old - the same way that some American psychologist went to the police after Michael Jackson's ill-advised documentary (thus sparking off the sex abuse trial)...?

Red - given that people in this country still complain about babies being BF-ed in public, then I should most certainly hope some people will complain to the police re. 7 & 10 year olds.

How VERY dare they ?

I can almost hear the sound of pitchforks being brandished and torches being lit...

...and that's just Mumsnet

Coming back to the original message about the C4 programme - totally agree bf 7 and 10 year olds is weird and freaky. But how can they compare that to tandem feeding twins? How else are you meant to feed them fgs (unless you want to do nothing but breastfeed all day long!!)?

Erm, a child was taken into care in America because it was discovered she was still breastfeeding. I think she was 8 or 9.

MyOther - ehhhmmmm....interesting nickname you have ! You are obviously a long timer on MN

Agree londonmummy. This doesn't look good I think

Sorry, the vulva thing was me having forgotten I had a slightly inappropriate name. I have been thoroughly chastised now.

Franny - no worries - wasn't criticising - thought it was funny in fact

I know it is very beyond all of you to think that formula could be better for a child than breast but please spare a thought for people like me on medication who are unable to feed their own child.
I was made to feel very guilty by everyone from my midwife who thought changing all my anti convulsants would be fine,to my sister in law who was bf and would crow breast is best at me at every chance.Even in hospital i was reffered to as that one on the end who is giving hers that bottled muck!
For every plus there is a minus and yes what most of you can do is very special and good if you can but please dont tar all us formula feeders with the same brush.

I for one am not tarring all formula feeders with the same brush. I don't think anyone is. The discussion is regarding supporting women and educating society to perceive breastfeeding as the norm.

My MIL was unable to breastfeed either of her two children due to true lactational failure. I had some deliberation on the issue because I was on anticoagulants. In these situations - and in the absence of wet nursing - formula is obviously a godsend.

I'm increasingly feeling that I won't be putting myself through the experience of watching this programme. Up to now I have managed to avoide loony views about extended breastfeeding being bad and wrong and have fed my kids for as long as I and they want without stress or worry.

I don't want to know what the loons think. It might make me more worried when I'm feeding my boy.

I'll look forward to the disseminated mn reaction though.

I agree with Spidey and Tipex. Until I came on mn, I had managed to insulate myself from the loons. I am not sure it has helped me to know that there are people out there that think I am sick and abusive.
I just mistrust fundamentally the motives of the people behind this programme. no good will come of it, mark my words....

Dinny, bet it's causing a right kerfuffle at work - lol!

changing my name for this
I look forward to seeing the show
Talking to non-parent friends today -- they all think breastfeeding beyond 6 mths a bit freaky

Anyway came home tonight having missed three feeds - baby asleep - so fed DH instead!!
He is nearly 30 and thought it was great

Message withdrawn

Joanna4 - I must say I am really annoyed that you are annoyed by this thread. This thread has absolutley NOTHING to do with formula feeding. I haven't read a single word on this thread that says bottle feeders are freaks.

This is a thread about how upset and angry some of us are that we are portrayed as freaks for giving our babies the most natural thing in the world, breastmilk.

One poster said on another thread that in Norway, where breastfeeding is seen as a beautiful and normal thing by the public, it is the bottle feeders who are seen as weird.

At times like these I am ashamed to be British. My Govt. (well, one I didn't vote for) goes around the world using the most modern bombs and weapons on innocent people in the name of democracy.

What democracy ? I can't even be left alone to feed my child as long as I wish without people pointing the finger at me and calling me a pervert/freak for breastfeeding my toddler ?

I WILL watch that bloody programme on Weds. only because I want to send a very long e-mail to the producers at Ch. 4 to tell them what idiots I think they are.

I am going to suggest that they produce a doc. about the nearly 2 mil. babies who die every year in the poorest countries in the world because they are fed formula from birth and how it is programmes that vilify breastfeeders that give Nestle and all those other formula producers the incentive to go around flogging their products.