India Knight "Stop breast-beating, sisters" - comment on charities' complaints re OK! article

[SueW]

In today's Times

Why can't they understand it's about underhand advertising?

[tiktok]

Totally agree about the pill and its benefits - effective and safe contraception controlled and chosen by the woman herself has been a fab thing for women.

If you want something to suppress periods and ovulation that's not the pill, expat, then I have to say that breastfeeding does this fairly well

[macneil]

"I am telling you that the sort of society where one is obligated to go back to work too soon, and buy and feed formula shit to babies, is not one that affirms any woman's choice. "

I think someone already responded to that breastapo comment... could we have thirty or so posts about this? Just in the interests of balance. I'm always told it isn't true that formula is frequently referred to as harmful without comment on these boards. 'Shit' is a critical word.

[Difers]

The more I get embroiled with this issue the more I think that India Knight and the presenter on Radio 4 Today Programme and their ilk seem to be saying that they bottle feed from ("a pro choice" - "back to work"- "don't want leaky boobs" ) feminist stance.

Positives roles and images of a nurturing feeding mother are rare in our society, why is that????

[expatinscotland]

Yes, well, so does pregnancy, tiktok, but that's a road I hope never to travel on again!

[doggiesayswoof]

Sorry macneil, I don't want to put words in QC's mouth, but I got the impression the comment was much more about how she felt at having to give her baby formula when she didn't want to...

[tiktok]

expat, in that case, you are a lost cause

[expatinscotland]

I gleefully sell off and Freecycle baby gear these days.

[Quattrocento]

You are right doggie. That was the old anger resurfacing, I think.

[doggiesayswoof]

Oh bliss - 9 months of pregnancy followed by about 5 months (last time) of no periods while bf - can I do that again please?

WHY am I not pg yet?

[expatinscotland]

better you than me, doggie .

[Caroline1852]

Sorry, the lesbian thing was rather juvenile (but I felt compelled by sort of dark forces).
I am sorry tiktok feels I have nothing to contribute by calling for mutual respect for all mothers feeding infants .
Perhaps I have never managed to breastfeed for long enough to get negative feedback from others re breastfeeding. MILs and mothers criticisms are totally exempt on all subjects to do with their grandchildren. They are overdressed, underdressed, too much sleep, not enough sleep, should go to bed at 7pm, surely allowed to stay up late as a treat from Granny, etc. Ditto negative comments from men. It is the negativity from other mothers that really hurts, I can't stand competive mothering.

[harpsichordcarrier]

well taking the pill is a decision that has an effect on a woman's own body.
decisions about bf, for whatever reason, impact significantly on another person, so they are of a different category imo.

[harpsichordcarrier]

caroline, you may preach "mutual respect" but you practice nothing but intolerance and name calling.
and you're not funny.
but feel free to keep giving us your opinions

[tiktok]

Negativity from other mothers does have the potential to hurt, Caroline, you are right.

I have never once argued against support for all mothers whatever they are doing or not doing with the breasts - you cannot seriously believe I think anything else.

You are

i) being unpleasant and juvenile

ii) refusing to stick to the debate - turning it into a 'breastfeeding v. formula feeding' thing rather than a discussion of unethical advertising; in other words you are doing the same thing IK does in her columm

iii) ignoring the fact that other (peer group) mothers pressurise mothers into using formula - and removing MILs and mothers from this is disingenuous, as they are, indeed, part of the pressure (and they are mothers, too)

iv) judging everything from your own experience only

[Difers]

Cll me a breastbeating, kaftan wearing, hairy legged, breastapo lesbian eco warrior, but I do think it is my busniness to be concerned about what is fed to our nations babies and to be concerned about the packaging of formula that is filling the landfill sites. I don't actually think being told to my mind own business is right. It is all our business, after we pay taxes, for the extra resources that bottle fed babies take and extra council to get rid of the rubbish that is created....Please discuss...

[Difers]

Whoops missed out the word TAX.

[Quattrocento]

I think the singing idea was good. There is not enough that is uplifting on this thread. All we've done is irritate one another. Caroline won the trophy for being the most irritating, I agree.

But I think we could do with a bit of singing now. Maybe admire one another's kaftans? Perhaps suggest a good poodle parlour to take care of the legs? I liked the poem much further down the thread btw.

[Tinker]

Rufus was also breast-fed


Artist Name - Loudon Wainwright
Song Lyrics - Rufus Is A Tit Man


Rufus is a tit man
Suckin' on his mamma's gland
Suckin' on the nipple
It's a sweeter than the ripple wine.
Yes its sweeter than the wine.
You can tell by the way the boy burps
that it's gotta taste fine.

Marco Polo craved the spice and silk
And Rufus craves the mamma's milk
No moo-cow no billy-goat
Is gonna get the baby's vote.
Come on mamma,
Come on and open up your shirt
Yeah you've got the goods mamma
Give the little boy a squirt.

For my lungs and my liver
I do definitely fear.
I like to suck on cigarettes
And drink the wine and beer.
The doctor says I'm oral
Blblblbllla-a-a-a-a-.
And I believe it's true.
Ah son you look so satisfied
I envy you.

So put Rufus on the left one
And put me right on the right
And like Romulus and Remus
We'll suck all night.
Come on mamma
Come on and lactate awhile.
Yeah look down on us mamma
And flash us a Madonna smile.

[doggiesayswoof]

Tinker

[Manictigger]

Just the other week we were discussing an article about bfing in the Sun with the general conclusion that it was pretty well-balanced and fair. This week we have a pile of crap in the Sunday Times. Is the world going mad?? Or perhaps we should just not be so snobby about newspapers (I bet if it had been the other way round, some would have said 'typical of the Sun')

I think IK has done herself a huge disservice actually because I'm sure I can't be the only one who will now see an article by her and automatically think 'oh it's that woman who wrote THAT pile of crap....'

Oh and thank God I'm not married to Baz in Australia....

[Difers]

I'll just get my tambourine and light the camp fire girls!

[Manictigger]

Damn, I shaved my armpits this morning.

Will I be turned away?

[Difers]

Just my sure your kaftan covers them but exposes your fine titties in the firelight!

[Quattrocento]

Difers please make sure the fire is made out wood taken from sustainable sources.

I have brought some lentils to contribute to the feast, here.